WELLS 
BROTHERS 

THE  YOUNG 
CATTLE  KINGS 


UC-NRLF 


^B    5Mfl    23a 


ANDY  ADAMS 


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BnMm,   *ltdi.,.i.  TIU   HON.    t-OODBOV   WILSON  yim-J\mHmu.   HILTON  A.   M.MC   Da 

-  ■     Vl..J_lJ_L    HON     S'lLLIAM    I<    TAI-r  Vk.-fii.l<i.<.    DAVID  «T«R>  JOIIOAN. 

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BMa<i7  Ytoftiii*.!.   COLONO.  THEaDORE   ROOUVttT  VkTlWJm:    A.   STAMFOID    WHITC. 

Praidai,  COUn  H.    UVINCSTONE.    W..UI■(l<>^   D.  C.  Ck«     "  '" 

«I»rMUM  ■■  U.DVUAEY.  ■rf«*<.  T>^  >^>^ 


SEELT. 


NATfOMAX.   ■■'aDQUARTBR* 

BOY  SCOUTS  OF  AMERICA 

rrXANCC  COMMtTTU  THE    FIFTB   AVHNUB    BVILDI>G,    800    FIFTH    Jk^VtCSVE        CEO«Ct   O.    f«*Tr^ 

lok.   SI»mM   B<^.  TVUPHONB    C«AM»<rV    MS 

52S  "K::   ""^  NEW    YORK    CITY  '*«»  »•  *?"     . 


ADDZriOMAt,    MSMUBBS    OK  f  UK    BXKCtmvB    BOABO 

EnM   P    ■kk«a  PtW:    J«n.iik  V.    |«.k.  E4|»  H.   «■> 

Robert  C«nMi  WHUbm  D.   MiMra;  m.^. ■     m^^i^ 

U.  r.    Iluao  Dr.   a>H«  P.    KaU  TTIt^ .      ^^ 

l>k.  a»mm„  H«Tt  Crn>  a   P«rat  Urill-J  9p»«n 

July  3l8t»  10I3. 

TO  THE  PUBLIC :- 

In  the  execution  of  Its  purpose  to  give  educational  value  and 
moral  worth  to  the  recreational  activities  of  the  boyhood  of  America, 
the  leaders  of  the  Boy  Scout  Movement  quickly  learned  that  to  effectively 
carry  out  its  program,  the  boy  must  be  influenced  not  only  in  his  out« 
of'door  life  but  also  in  the  diversions  of  his  other  leisure  nonenta. 
It  is  at  such  times  that  the  boy  is  captured  by  the  tales  of  daring 
enterprises  and  adventurous  good  times.  What  now  is  needful  is  not 
that  his  taste  should  be  thwarted  but  trained.  There  should  constantly 
be  presented'^t^him  the  books. the  boy  likes  best,  yet  always  the  books 
that  will  be  best  for  the  boy.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  the  boy's, 
taste  is  being  constantly  vitiated  and  exploited  by  the  great  mass  of 
cheap  Juvenile  literature. 

To  help  anxiously  oonoemed  parents  and  educators  to  meet  this 
grave  peril,  the  Library  Commission  of  the  Boy  Scouts  of  America  has 
been  organized,  EVERY  BOY'S  LIBRARY  is  the  result  of  their  labors. 
All  the  books  chosen  have  been  approved  by  them.  The  CommlBsion  is 
composed  of  the  following  members:  George  F.  Bowerman,  Librarian,  Public 
Library  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  Washington,  D.  C, ;  Harrison  t. 
Graver,  Librarian,  Carnegie  Library  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  ;  Claude  G.  Leland, 
Superintendent,  Bureau  of  Libraries,  Board  of  Educatiop,  New  York  City; 

"DO  A   GOOD  TURN   DAILY."  *Ovati 


^ildwafd  f»   Stevens,  Librarian,  Pratt  Institute  Free  Library,  ffrooklyn, 
Kew  York;  together  with  the  Editorial  Board  of  our  Movement  Wiliiaaj 
D.  Murray  George  D.  Pratt  and  Frank  Presbrey,  with  Tfaoklin  K.  Mathiews, 
Chief  Scout  Librarian,  as  Secretary. 

In  selecting  'the  books,  thft  ComRiission  has  chosen  only  auch  as 
are  of  interest  to  boys,  the  first  twenty-five  being  either  works  of 
fiction  or  stirring  stories  of  adventurous  experiences.  In  later  lists, 
books  of  a  more  serious  sort  will  be  included.  It  is  hoped  that  as 
Qiany  as  twenty-five  may  be  added  to  the  Library  each  year. 

Thanks  are  due  the  several  publishers  who  have  helped  to 
inaugurate  this  new  department  of  our  work.  Without  their  co-operation 
in  making  available  foir  popular  priced  editions  some  of  the  best  books 
ever  published  for  boys*  the  proDOtloa  of  £V£RY  BOY'S  LIBRARY  would. 
b9vj»  beea  impossible^ 

f©  wish,  too^  to  express  our  heartiest  gratitude  to  the  Library 
Commission,  who,  witaiotit  compensation,  have  placed  their  vast  experience 
end  immense  resourcestiat  the  service  of  our  Movement. 

The  Oooalsslon  invites  suggestions  as  to  future  books  to  be 
included  in  the  Library,  Librarians,  teachers,  parents,  and  all  others 
interested  in  welfai<b  work  for  boys,  can  ren-ier  a  unique  service  by 
forwarding  to  Natlot)'i»l  Headquarters  lists  of  such  books  as  in  their 
judgment  would  l>e  euttable  for  every  Boy'S  library. 


Signed 


/^^^-►H^  ^.Ujuu4^ 


Chief  Seout  Executive. 


WELLS    BROTHERS 
THE  YOUNG  CATTLE  KINGS 


EVERY  BOY*S  LIBRARY    BOY  SCOUT  EDITION 

WELLS  BROTHERS 

THE  YOUNG  CATTLE  KINGS 

BY 

ANDY  ADAMS 


With  Illustrations  by 

Envin  E.  Smith 


NEW     YORK 

GROSSET    &    DUNLAP 

PUBLISH  ERS 


COPYRIGHT,    1911,   BY  ANDY  ADAMS 
ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVSD 

Published  March  xqii 


*THfRb  impiieb»i6n 


CONTENTS 

I.    Waifs  of  the  Plain             .  .         .       i 

II.    The  Hospital  on  the  Beaver  .          17 

III.  The  Bottom  Rung      .         .  .         -35 

IV.  The  Brothers  claim  a  Range  .  52 
V.    A  Fall  of  Crumbs       .         .  .         .69 

VI.    Sunshine  and  Shadow     ...  84 

VII.    All  in  the  Day's  Work     .         .         .100 

VIII.    The  Lines  of  Intrenchment  .        115 

IX.  A  Wintry  Crucible  .  .  .  .132 
X.    Good  Fighting       .         .         .         .       150 

XI.  Holding  the  Fort  ....  168 
XII.    A  Winter  Drift    .         .         .         .185 

XIII.  A  Welcome  Guest      ....  203 

XIV.  An  III  Wind  .         ,         .         .215 
XV.    Water!  Water!        •         .         .         .  230 

XVI.    A  Protected  Credit       .         ,         .       247 
XVII.    "  The  Wagon  " .         .  .         .  264 


M60S27 


vi  CONTENTS 

XVIII.  An  Open  Winter  .         .         .        276 

XIX.  An  Indian  Scare        ....  292 

XX.  Harvest  on  the  Range  .         .        304 

XXI.  Living  in  the  Saddle         .         .         .  323 

XXII.  Independence         ....        339 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

They  changed  to  fresh  ones  at  noon 

(page  26) Frontispiece 

Caught  his  bunkie  in  the  act  of  mounting  .       2 

The  trail  twice  as  wide  as  a  city  street  26 

Joel  Wells  and  his  Spanish  cow-pony    .         .     98 

Dell  Wells       .         .         .         .         .         .        164 

Every  feature  was  pointed  out  by  the  trio  260 

The  first  round-up  of  the  day  .         .        306 

He  beat  the  horse  back  into  the  round-up  .  326 

From  photographs  by  Erwin  E.  Smith 


WELLS  BROTHERS 

THE  YOUNG  CATTLE  KINGS 


•  •  •    »  J 

•  •  ••  *  . 

•  •    •    •  • 

•  ••.•-  • 


CHAPTER  I--  ; 

•     » 

WAIFS    OF   THE    PLAIN 


THE  first  herd  of  trail  cattle  to  leave 
Dodge  City,  Kansas,  for  the  North- 
west, during  the  summer  of  1885,  was 
owned  by  the  veteran  drover,  Don  Lovell. 
Accidents  will  happen,  and  when  about  mid- 
way between  the  former  point  and  Ogalalla, 
Nebraska,  a  rather  serious  mishap  befell 
Quince  Forrest,  one  of  the  men  with  the  herd. 
He  and  the  horse  wrangler,  who  were  bunkies, 
were  constantly  scuffling,  reckless  to  the  point 
of  injury,  the  pulse  of  healthy  manhood  beat- 
ing a  constant  alarm  to  rough  contest. 

The  afternoon  previous  to  the  accident,  a 
wayfaring  man  had  overtaken  the  herd,  and 
spent  the  night  with  the  trail  outfit.  During 
the  evening,  a  flock  of  sand-hill  cranes  was 
sighted,  when  the  stranger  expressed  a  wish 
to  secure  a  specimen  of  the  bird  for  its  splen- 
did plumage.  On  Forrest's  own  suggestion, 
his  being  a  long-range  pistol  and  the  covey 


2  WELLS   BROTHERS 

wary,  the  two  exchanged  belts.  The  visitor 
followed   the  flock,  stealing  within  range  a 
number  of  times,  and  emptying  the  six-shooter 
at  every  cbapce.  On  securing  a  fine  specimen 
i[:  neat^lgfTPttajll,  he  returned  to  the  herd,  elated 
,.  .oYQi?» »his. chance  shot  and  beautiful  trophy. 
**•* if ©Veveiy  before  returning  the  belt,  he  had 
refilled  the  cylinder  with  six  instead  of  five 
cartridges,   thus    resting   the    hammer    on  a 
loaded  shell.  In  the  enthusiasm  of  the  mo- 
ment, and  ignorant  of  its  danger,  belt  and  pis- 
tol were  returned  to  their  owner. 

Dawn  found  the  camp  astir.  The  sun  had 
flooded  the  plain  while  the  outfit  was  break- 
fasting, the  herd  was  grazing  forward  in  pas- 
toral contentment,  the  horses  stood  under 
saddle  for  the  morning's  work,  when  the  trail 
foreman,  Paul  Priest,  languidly  remarked :  "  If 
everybody's  ready,  we'll  ride.  Fill  the  can- 
teens; it's  high  time  we  were  in  the  saddle. 
Of  course,  that  means  the  parting  tussle  be- 
tween Quince  and  the  wrangler.  It  would  be 
a  shame  to  deny  those  lads  anything  so  enjoy- 
able— they  remind  me  so  much  of  mule  colts 
and  half-grown  dogs.  Now,  cut  in  and  worry 
each  other  a  spell,  because  you  '11  be  separated 
until  noon.  Fly  at  it,  or  we  mount." 

The  two  addressed  never  cast  a  glance  at 
each  other,  but  as  the  men  swung  into  their 


»..• 


WAIFS   OF   THE   PLAIN  3 

saddles,  the  horse  wrangler,  with  the  agility 
of  a  tiger,  caught  his  bunkie  in  the  act  of 
mounting,  dragging  him  to  the  ground,  when 
the  expected  scuffle  ensued.  The  outfit  had 
barely  time  to  turn  their  horses,  to  witness 
the  contest,  when  the  two  crashed  against  the 
wagon  wheel  and  Forrest's  pistol  was  dis- 
charged. The  men  dismounted  instantly,  the 
wrangler  eased  the  victim  to  the  ground,  and 
when  the  outfit  gathered  around,  the  former 
was  smothering  the  burning  clothing  of  his 
friend  and  bunkmate.  A  withdrawn  boot, 
dripping  with  blood,  was  the  first  indication 
of  the  havoc  wrought,  and  on  stripping  it  was 
found  that  the  bullet  had  ploughed  an  open 
furrow  down  the  thigh,  penetrating  the  calf 
of  the  leg  from  knee  to  ankle,  where  it  was 
fortunately  deflected  outward  and  into  the 
ground. 

The  deepest  of  regret  was  naturally  ex- 
pressed. The  jocular  remarks  of  the  foreman, 
the  actions  of  the  wrangler,  were  instantly 
recalled  to  the  surrounding  group,  while  the 
negligence  which  caused  the  accident  was 
politely  suppressed.  The  stranger,  innocently 
unaware  of  any  mistake  on  his  part,  lent  a 
valuable  hand  in  stanching  the  blood  and  in 
washing  and  binding  up  the  wounds.  No 
bones  were  injured,  and  with  youth  and  a 


4  WELLS   BROTHERS 

buoyant  constitution,  there  was  every  hope  of 
recovery. 

However,  some  disposition  must  be  made 
of  the  wounded  man.  No  one  could  recall  a 
house  or  settlement  nearer  than  the  Republi- 
can River,  unless  down  the  Beaver,  which 
was  uncertain,  when  the  visitor  came  to  the 
rescue.  He  was  positive  that  some  two  years 
before,  an  old  soldier  had  taken  a  homestead 
five  or  six  miles  above  the  trail  crossing  on 
the  Beaver.  He  was  insistent,  and  the  fore- 
man yielded  so  far  as  to  order  the  herd  grazed 
forward  to  the  Beaver,  which  was  some  ten 
miles  distant  in  their  front.  All  the  blankets 
in  the  outfit  were  accordingly  brought  into 
use,  in  making  a  comfortable  bed  in  the 
wagon,  and  the  caravan  started,  carrying  the 
wounded  man  with  it.  Taking  the  stranger 
with  him,  the  foreman  bore  away  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  supposed  homestead,  having 
previously  sent  two  men  on  an  opposite  angle, 
in  search  of  any  settlement  down  the  creek. 

The  visitor's  knowledge  of  the  surrounding 
country  proved  to  be  correct.  About  six  miles 
above  the  trail  crossing,  the  Beaver,  fringed 
with  willows,  meandered  through  a  narrow 
valley,  in  which  the  homestead  was  located. 
The  presence  of  the  willows  was  an  indica- 
tion of  old  beaver  dams,  which  the  settler  had 


WAIFS   OF   THE   PLAIN  5 

improved  until  the  water  stood  in  long,  placid 
pools.  In  response  to  their  hail,  two  boys, 
about  fourteen  and  sixteen  years  of  age, 
emerged  from  the  dug-out  and  greeted  the 
horsemen.  On  inquiry,  it  proved  that  their 
father  had  died  during  the  previous  winter,  at 
a  settlement  on  the  Solomon  River,  and  the 
boys  were  then  confronted  with  the  necessity 
of  leaving  the  claim  to  avoid  suffering  want. 
It  was  also  learned  that  their  mother  had  died 
before  their  father  had  taken  the  homestead, 
and  therefore  they  were  left  orphans  to  fight 
their  own  battle. 

The  boys  gave  their  names  as  Joel  and  Dell 
Wells.  Both  were  bright-eyed  and  alert, 
freckled  from  the  sun,  ragged  and  healthy. 
Joel  was  the  oldest,  broad-shouldered  for  his 
years,  distant  by  nature,  with  a  shock  of  au- 
burn hair,  while  Dell's  was  red;  in  height, 
the  younger  was  the  equal  of  his  brother,  talk- 
ative, and  frank  in  countenance.  When  made 
acquainted  with  the  errand  of  the  trail  boss, 
the  older  boy  shook  his  head,  but  Dell  stepped 
forward:  "  Awful  sorry," said  he,  with  a  sweep 
of  his  hand,  "  but  our  garden  failed,  and  there 
won't  be  a  dozen  roasting-ears  in  that  field 
of  corn.  If  hot  winds  don't  kill  it,  it  might 
make  fodder.  We  expect  to  pull  out  next 
week." 


6  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"Have  you  no  cows?"  inquired  the  trail 
foreman. 

"  We  had  two,  but  the  funeral  expenses  took 
them,  and  then  pa's  pension  was  stopped. 
You  see  — " 

"  I  see,"  said  the  trail  foreman,  dismount- 
ing. "  Possibly  we  can  help  each  other.  Our 
wagon  is  well  provisioned.  If  you  '11  shelter 
and  nurse  this  wounded  man  of  mine — " 

"We  can't  winter  here,"  said  Joel,  step- 
ping forward, "  and  the  sooner  we  get  out  and 
find  work  the  better." 

"  Oh,  I  was  figuring  on  paying  you  wages," 
countered  the  trail  man,  now  aware  of  their 
necessity,  "  and  I  suppose  you  could  use  a 
quarter  of  beef." 

"Oh  goodness,"  whispered  Dell  to  his 
brother;  "  think,  fresh  meat." 

"  And  I  '11  give  each  of  you  twenty-five 
dollars  a  month  —  leave  the  money  with  my 
man  or  pay  you  in  advance.  If  you  say  the 
word,  I  '11  unload  my  wagon  right  here,  and 
grub-stake  you  for  two  months.  I  can  get 
more  provision  at  the  Republican  River, 
and  in  the  mean  time,  something  may  turn 
up." 

The  stranger  also  dismounted  and  took  part 
in  urging  the  necessity  of  accepting  the  offer. 
Dell  brightened  at  every  suggestion,  but  his 


WAIFS   OF   THE   PLAIN  7 

brother  was  tactful,  questioning  and  combat- 
ing the  men,  and  looking  well  to  the  future. 
A  cold  and  unfriendly  world,  coupled  with 
misfortune,  had  aged  the  elder  boy  beyond  his 
years,  while  the  younger  one  was  sympathetic, 
trustful,  and  dependent. 

"  Suppose  we  are  delayed  in  reaching  the 
Solomon  until  fall,"  said  Dell  to  his  brother; 
"  that  will  put  us  into  the  settlements  in  time 
for  corn-shucking.  If  you  get  six-bits  a  day, 
I  'm  surely  worth  fifty  cents." 

"Suppose  there  is  no  corn  to  shuck,"  re- 
plied Joel.  "Suppose  this  wounded  man  dies  on 
our  hands  ?  What  then  ?  Have  n't  you  heard 
pa  tell  how  soldiers  died  from  slight  wounds  ? 
—  from  blood-poisoning?  If  we  have  to  go, 
we  might  as  well  go  at  once." 

According  to  his  light,  the  boy  reasoned 
well.  But  when  the  wayfaring  man  had  most 
skillfully  retold  the  story  of  the  Good  Samari- 
tan, the  older  boy  relented  somewhat,  while 
Dell  beamed  with  enthusiasm  at  the  opportu- 
nity of  rendering  every  assistance. 

"  It  is  n't  because  we  don't  want  to  help 
you,"  protested  Joel,  "  but  it 's  because  we  're 
so  poor  and  have  nothing  to  offer." 

"You  have  health  and  willing  hands,"  said 
the  trail  boss;  "let  me  do  the  rest." 

"  But  suppose  he  does  n't  recover  as  soon 


8  WELLS   BROTHERS 

as  expected,"  cautiously  protested  Joel,"  where 
are  we  to  get  further  provision  ?  " 

"Good  suggestion,"  assented  the  trail  fore- 
man. "  But  here :  I  '11  leave  two  good  horses 
in  your  care  for  the  wounded  man,  and  all 
you  need  to  do  is  to  ride  down  to  the  trail, 
hail  any  passing  herd,  and  simply  tell  them 
you  are  harboring  a  crippled  lad,  one  of  Don 
LovelPs  boys,  and  you  can  levy  on  them  for 
all  they  have.  It 's  high  time  you  were  getting 
acquainted  with  these  trail  outfits.  Shelter  this 
man  of  mine,  and  all  will  come  out  well  in  the 
end.  Besides,  I  '11  tell  old  man  Don  about  you 
boys,  and  he  might  take  you  home  to  his  ranch 
with  him.  He  has  no  boys,  and  he  might  take 
a  fancy  to  you  two." 

Dell's  eyes  moistened  at  the  suggestion  of 
a  home.  The  two  brothers  reentered  the  dug- 
out, and  the  men  led  their  horses  down  to  the 
creek  for  a  drink.  A  span  of  poor  old  mules 
stood  inside  a  wooden  corral,  a  rickety  wagon 
and  a  few  rusty  farming  implements  were 
scattered  about,  while  over  all  the  homestead 
was  the  blight  of  a  merciless  summer  drouth. 

"What  a  pretty  little  ranch  this  would  make," 
said  the  trail  boss  to  the  stranger.  "  If  these 
boys  had  a  hundred  cows,  with  this  water  and 
range,  in  a  few  years  they  would  be  indepen- 
dent men.  No  wonder  that  oldest  boy  is  cau- 


WAIFS   OF   THE   PLAIN  9 

tious.  Just  look  around  and  see  the  reward  of 
their  father's  and  their  own  labor.  Their  very 
home  denies  them  bread." 

"  Did  you  notice  the  older  boy  brighten/' 
inquired  the  visitor,  "when  you  suggested 
leaving  horses  in  their  care?  It  was  the  only 
argument  that  touched  him." 

"  Then  I  '11  use  it,"  said  the  trail  boss,  bright- 
ening. "  We  have  several  cow  horses  in  our 
remuda,  unfit  for  saddle,  —  galled  backs  and 
the  like,  —  and  if  these  boys  would  care  for 
them,  I'll  make  their  hungry  hearts  happy. 
Care  and  attention  and  a  month's  rest  would 
make  the  ponies  as  sound  as  a  dollar.  You 
suggest  my  giving  them  each  a  saddle  pony; 
argue  the  matter,  and  try  and  win  me  over." 

The  men  retraced  their  steps,  leading  their 
horses,  and  when  scarcely  halfway  from  the 
creek  to  the  dug-out,  Dell  ran  down  to  meet 
them.  "  If  you  can  spare  us  a  few  blankets  and 
a  pillow,"  earnestly  said  the  boy,  "  we  '11  take 
the  wounded  man.  He  's  liable  to  be  feverish 
at  night,  and  ought  to  have  a  pillow.  Joel  and 
I  can  sleep  outside  or  in  the  stable." 

"  Hurrah  for  the  Wells  boys  !  "  shouted 
the  trail  boss.  "  Hereafter  I'  11  bet  my  money, 
horse  and  saddle,  on  a  red-headed  boy.  Blan- 
kets ?  Why,  you  can  have  half  a  dozen,  and 
as  to  pillows,  watch  me  rob  the  outfit.  I  have 


lo  WELLS   BROTHERS 

a  rubber  one,  there  are  several  moss  ones,  and 
I  have  a  lurking  suspicion  that  there  are  a  few 
genuine  goose-hair  pillows  in  the  outfit,  and 
you  may  pick  and  choose.  They  are  all  yours 
for  the  asking." 

The  men  parleyed  around  some  little  time, 
offering  pretexts  for  entering  the  shack,  the 
interior  of  which  bespoke  its  own  poverty. 
When  all  agreements  had  been  reviewed,  the 
men  mounted  their  horses,  promising  to  fulfill 
their  part  of  the  covenant  that  afternoon  or 
evening. 

Once  out  of  hearing,  the  stranger  remarked  : 
"  That  oldest  boy  is  all  right ;  it  was  their 
poverty  that  caused  him  to  hesitate ;  he  tried 
to  shield  their  want.  We  men  don't  always 
understand  boys.  Hereafter,  in  dealing  with 
Joel,  you  must  use  some  diplomacy.  The  death 
of  his  parents  has  developed  a  responsibility 
in  the  older  boy  which  the  younger  one  does  n't 
feel.  That 's  about  all  the  difference  in  the  two 
lads.  You  must  deal  gently  with  Joel,  and 
never  offend  him  or  expose  his  needs." 

"  Trust  me,"  replied  the  foreman, "  and  I  '11 
coach  Qiiince  —  that's  the  name  of  the 
wounded  man.  Within  an  hour,  he  '11  be  right 
at  home  with  those  boys.  If  nothing  serious 
happens  to  his  wound,  within  a  week  he'll 
have  those  youngsters  walking  on  clouds." 


WAIFS   OF   THE   PLAIN  ii 

The  two  men  rode  out  of  the  valley,  when 
they  caught  sight  of  a  dust  cloud,  indicating 
the  locality  of  the  trailing  herd,  then  hidden 
behind  the  last  divide  before  reaching  Beaver 
Creek.  On  every  hand  the  undulating  plain 
rolled  away  to  low  horizons,  and  the  men  rode 
forward  at  a  leisurely  pace. 

"  I  've  been  thinking  of  those  boys,"  sud- 
denly said  the  trail  foreman,  arousing  himself 
from  a  reverie.  "They're  to  be  pitied.  This 
government  ought  to  be  indicted  for  running 
a  gambling  game,  robbing  children,  orphan 
children  of  a  soldier,  at  that.  There  's  a  fair 
sample  of  the  skin  game  the  government's 
running  —  bets  you  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  against  fourteen  dollars  you  can  't  hold 
down  a  homestead  for  five  years.  And  big  as 
the  odds  look,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  in 
this  country,  the  government  wins.  It  ought 
to  be  convicted  on  general  principles.  Men 
are  not  to  be  pitied,  but  it's  a  crime  against 
women  and  children." 

"  Oh,  you  cowmen  always  rail  at  the  set- 
tler," retorted  the  stranger;  "you  would  kick 
if  you  were  being  hung.  There 's  good  in 
everything.  A  few  years  of  youthful  poverty, 
once  they  reach  manhood,  is  n't  going  to  hurt 
those  boys.  The  school  of  experience  has  its 
advantages." 


12  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"If  it's  convenient,  let's  keep  an  eye  on 
those  boys  the  next  few  years,"  said  the  trail 
boss,  catching  sight  of  his  remuda.  "  Now, 
there 's  the  wagon.  Suppose  you  ride  down  to 
the  Beaver  and  select  a  good  camp,  well  above 
the  trail  crossing,  and  I'll  meet  the  commis- 
sary and  herd.  We'll  have  to  lay  over  this 
afternoon,  which  will  admit  of  watering  the 
herd  twice  to-day.  Try  and  find  some  shade." 

The  men  separated,  riding  away  on  differ- 
ent angles.  The  foreman  hailed  his  wagon, 
found  the  victim  resting  comfortably,  and  re- 
ported securing  a  haven  for  the  wounded 
man.  Instructing  his  cook  to  watch  for  a  sig- 
nal, at  the  hands  of  the  stranger,  indicating  a 
camp  on  the  creek,  he  turned  and  awaited  the 
arrival  of  the  lead  cattle  of  the  trailing  col- 
umn. Issuing  orders  to  cover  the  situation,  he 
called  off  half  the  men,  first  veering  the  herd 
to  the  nearest  water,  and  rode  to  overtake  his 
wagon  and  saddle  horses. 

Beaver  Creek  was  barely  running  water, 
with  an  occasional  long  pool.  A  hedge  of  wil- 
lows was  interwoven,  Indian  fashion,  from 
which  a  tarpaulin  was  stretched  to  the  wagon 
bows,  forming  a  sheltered  canopy.  Amid  a 
fire  of  questions,  the  wounded  man  was  lifted 
from  the  wagon. 

"  Are  you  sure  there  is  n't  a  woman  at  this 


WAIFS   OF  THE   PLAIN  13 

nester's  shack,"  said  he  appeal! ngly  to  the 
bearers  of  the  blanket  stretcher.  "  If  there  is, 
I  ain't  going.  Paul,  stand  squarely  in  front  of 
me,  where  I  can  see  your  eyes.  After  what 
I  Ve  been  handed  lately,  it  makes  me  peevish. 
I  want  to  feel  the  walnut  juice  in  your  hand 
clasp.    Now,  tell  it  all  over  once  more." 

The  stranger  was  artfully  excused,  to  select 
a  beef,  after  which  the  foreman  sat  down  be- 
side his  man,  giving  him  all  the  details  and 
making  valuable  suggestions.  He  urged  cour- 
teous treatment  of  their  guest  while  he  re- 
mained ;  that  there  was  nothing  to  be  gained, 
after  the  accident,  by  insult  to  a  visitor,  and 
concluded  by  praising  the  boys  and  bespeak- 
ing their  protection. 

The  wounded  man  was  Southern  by  birth 
and  instinct,  and  knew  that  the  hospitality  of 
ranch  and  road  and  camp  was  one  and  the 
same.  "  Very  well,"  said  he,  "  but  in  this  in- 
stance, remember  it 's  my  calf  that 's  gored. 
Serves  me  right,  though,  kittening  up  to  every 
stranger  that  comes  along.  I  must  be  getting 
tired  of  you  slatterly  cow  hands."  He  hesi- 
tated a  moment.  "  The  one  thing  I  like,"  he 
continued,  "  about  this  nester  layout  is  those 
red-headed  boys.  And  these  two  are  just 
about  petting  age.  I  can  almost  see  them  eat- 
ing sugar  out  of  my  hand." 


14  WELLS   BROTHERS 

After  dinner,  and  now  that  a  haven  was  se- 
cured, the  question  of  medical  aid  was  con- 
sidered. The  couriers  down  the  Beaver  had 
returned  and  reported  no  habitation  in  that 
direction.  Fortunately  the  destination  of  the 
stranger  was  a  settlement  on  the  Republican 
River,  and  he  volunteered  to  ride  through 
that  afternoon  and  night  and  secure  a  sur- 
geon. Frontier  physicians  were  used  to  hun- 
dred-mile calls.  The  owner  of  the  herd,  had 
he  been  present,  would  have  insisted  on  medi- 
cal attention,  the  wounded  man  reluctantly 
consented,  and  the  stranger,  carrying  a  hastily 
written  letter  to  Mr.  Lovell,  took  his  depart- 
ure. 

Early  evening  found  the  patient  installed, 
not  in  the  dug-out,  but  in  a  roomy  tent.  A 
quarter  of  beef  hung  on  a  willow,  the  one- 
room  shack  was  bountifully  provisioned,  while 
the  foreman  remained  to  await  the  arrival  of 
a  physician.  The  day  had  brought  forth  won- 
ders to  Joel  and  Dell  —  from  the  dark  hour 
of  want  to  the  dawn  of  plenty,  while  the  fu- 
ture was  a  sealed  book.  In  addition  to  the 
promised  horses,  Forrest's  saddle  hung  in  the 
sod  stable,  while  two  extra  ponies  aroused 
the  wonder  of  the  questioning  boys. 

"  I  just  brought  these  two  along,"  explained 
the  foreman,  "  as  their  backs  were  galled  dur- 


WAIFS   OF   THE   PLAIN  15 

ing  a  recent  rainy  spell.  You  can  see  they  are 
unfit  for  saddle,  but  with  a  little  attention  can 
be  cured  —  I  '11  show  you  how.  You  have  an 
abundance  of  water,  and  after  I  leave,  wash 
their  backs,  morning  and  evening,  and  they  '11 
be  well  in  a  month.  Since  you  are  running  a 
trail  hospital,  you  want  to  cater  to  man  and 
beast.  Of  course,  if  you  boys  nurse  this  man 
through  to  health  and  strength,  I  '11  make  an 
appeal  to  Mr.  Lovell  to  give  you  these  po- 
nies. They  '11  come  in  handy,  in  case  you  re- 
turn to  the  Solomon,  or  start  a  little  cattle 
ranch  here." 

The  sun  set  in  benediction  on  the  little 
homestead.  The  transformation  seemed  magi- 
cal. Even  the  blight  of  summer  drouth  was 
toned  and  tempered  by  the  shadows  of  even- 
ing. The  lesson  of  the  day  had  filled  empty 
hearts  with  happiness,  and  when  darkness 
fell,  the  boys  threw  off  all  former  reserve, 
and  the  bond  of  host  and  guest  was  firmly 
established.  Forrest,  even,  cemented  the  tie, 
by  dividing  any  needful  attention  between  the 
boys. 

"Do  you  know,"  said  he  to  the  foreman 
indifferently,  in  the  presence  of  the  lads,  "that 
I  was  thinking  of  calling  the  oldest  one  Doc 
and  the  youngest  one  Nurse,  but  now  I  'm 
going  to  call  them  just  plain  Joel  and  Dell, 


i6  WELLS   BROTHERS 

and  they  can  call  me  Mr.  Quince.  Honor 
bright,  I  never  met  a  boy  who  can  pour  water 
on  a  wound,  that  seems  to  go  to  the  right  spot, 
like  Dell  Wells.  One  day  with  another,  give 
me  a  red-headed  boy." 


CHAPTER   II 

THE    HOSPITAL    ON   THE    BEAVER 

THE  patient  passed  a  feverish  night. 
Priest  remained  on  watch  in  the  tent, 
but  on  several  occasions  aroused  the 
boys,  as  recourse  to  pouring  water  was  neces- 
sary to  relieve  the  pain.  The  limb  had  reached 
a  swollen  condition  by  morning,  and  consider- 
able anxiety  was  felt  over  the  uncertainty  of 
a  physician  arriving.  If  summoned  the  pre- 
vious evening,  it  was  possible  that  one  might 
arrive  by  noon,  otherwise  there  was  no  hope 
before  evening  or  during  the  night. 

"  Better  post  a  guide  on  the  trail,"  suggested 
Joel.  "  If  a  doctor  comes  from  the  Republican, 
we  can  pilot  him  across  the  prairie  and  save 
an  hour's  time.  There 's  a  dim  wagon  trail 
runs  from  here  to  the  first  divide,  north  of  the 
trail  crossing  on  Beaver.  Pa  used  it  when  he 
went  to  Culbertson  to  draw  his  pension.  It 
would  save  the  doctor  a  six  or  seven  mile 
drive." 

"Now,  that  suggestion  is  to  the  point," 
cheerfully  assented  the  trail  foreman.  "  The 
herd  will  noon  on  the  first  divide,  and  we  can 


i8  WELLS   BROTHERS 

post  the  boys  of  the  cut-off.  They'll  surely 
meet  the  doctor  this  afternoon  or  evening. 
Corral  the  horses,  and  I  '11  shorten  up  the 
stirrup  straps  on  Forrest's  saddle.  Who  will 
we  send  ?  " 

"  I  '11  go,"  said  Dell,  jumping  at  the  oppor- 
tunity. He  had  admired  the  horses  and  heavy 
Texas  saddles  the  evening  previous,  and  now 
that  a  chance  presented  itself,  his  eyes  danced 
at  the  prospect.  "Why,  I  can  follow  a  dim 
wagon  track,"  he  added.  "Joel  and  I  used  to 
go  halfway  to  the  divide,  to  meet  pa  when  he 
bought  us  new  boots." 

"I'll  see  who  can  best  be  spared,"  replied 
Priest.  "  Your  patient  seems  to  think  that  no 
one  can  pour  water  like  you.  Besides,  there 
will  be  plenty  of  riding  to  do,  and  you  '11  get 
your  share." 

The  foreman  delayed  shortening  the  stirrup 
straps  until  after  the  horse  stood  saddled, 
when  he  adjusted  the  lacings  as  an  object 
lesson  to  the  boys.  Both  rode  the  same  length 
of  stirrup,  mounting  the  horse  to  be  fitted,  and 
when  reduced  to  the  proper  length,  Dell  was 
allowed  to  ride  past  the  tent  for  inspection. 

"  There  's  the  making  of  a  born  cowman," 
said  Forrest,  as  Dell  halted  before  the  open 
tent.  "It's  an  absolute  mistake  to  think  that 
that  boy  was  ever  intended  for  a  farmer.  No- 


HOSPITAL  ON   THE   BEAVER     19 

tice  his  saddle  poise,  will  you,  Paul?  Has  a 
pretty  foot,  too,  even  if  it  is  slightly  sunburned. 
We  must  get  him  some  boots.  With  that  red 
hair,  he  never  ought  to  ride  any  other  horse 
than  a  black  stallion." 

When  the  question  arose  as  to  which  of  the 
boys  was  to  be  sent  to  intercept  the  moving 
herd  and  await  the  doctor,  Forrest  decided 
the  matter.  "  I  '11  have  to  send  Joel,"  said  he, 
"  because  I  simply  can't  spare  Dell.  The  swell- 
ing has  benumbed  this  old  leg  of  mine,  and 
we  '11  have  to  give  it  an  occasional  rubbing  to 
keep  the  circulation  up.  There  's  where  Dell 
has  the  true  touch;  actually  he  reminds  me  of 
my  mother.  She  could  tie  a  rag  around  a  sore 
toe,  in  a  way  that  would  make  a  boy  forget  all 
his  trouble.  Hold  Joel  a  minute." 

The  sound  of  a  moving  horse  had  caught  the 
ear  of  the  wounded  man,  and  when  the  older 
boy  dismounted  at  the  tent  opening,  he  contin- 
ued: "Now,  Joel,  don't  let  that  cow  outfit  get 
funny  with  you.  Show  them  the  brand  on  that 
horse  you  're  riding,  and  give  them  distinctly 
to  understand,  even  if  you  are  barefooted,  that 
you  are  one  of  Don  Lovell's  men.  Of  course 
you  don't  know  him,  but  with  that  old  man, 
it's  love  me,  love  my  dog.  Get  your  dinner 
with  the  outfit,  and  watch  for  a  dust  cloud  in 


20  WELLS   BROTHERS 

the  south.  There  's  liable  to  be  another  herd 
along  any  day,  and  we  '11  need  a  cow." 

Forrest  was  nearly  forty,  while  Priest  was 
fully  fifty  years  of  age ;  neither  had  ever  had 
children  of  his  own,  and  their  hearts  went 
out  in  manly  fullness  to  these  waifs  of  the  plain. 
On  the  other  hand,  a  day  had  brought  forth 
promise  and  fulfillment,  from  strangers,  to  the 
boys,  until  the  latter's  confidence  knew  no 
bounds.  At  random,  the  men  virtually  spoke 
of  the  cattle  on  a  thousand  hills,  until  the  boys 
fully  believed  that  by  merely  waving  a  wand, 
the  bells  would  tinkle  and  a  cow  walk  forth. 
Where  two  horses  were  promised,  four  had 
appeared.  Where  their  little  store  of  provision 
was  as  good  as  exhausted,  it  had  been  multi- 
plied many  fold.  Where  their  living  quarters 
were  threatened  with  intrusion,  a  tent,  with 
fly,  was  added;  all  of  which,  as  if  by  magic, 
had  risen  out  of  a  dip  in  the  plain. 

There  was  no  danger,  at  the  hands  of  the 
trail  men,  of  any  discourtesy  to  Joel,  but  to 
relieve  any  timidity,  the  foreman  saddled  his 
horse  and  accompanied  the  boy  a  mile  or 
more,  full}^  reviewing  the  details  of  his  er- 
rand. Left  behind,  and  while  rubbing  the 
wounded  limb,  Dell  regaled  his  patient  with 
a  scrap  of  family  history.  "  Pa  never  let  us  boys 
go  near  the  trail,"  said  he.  "  It  seemed  like  he 


HOSPITAL  ON   THE  BEAVER    21 

was  afraid  of  you  Texas  men;  afraid  your  cat- 
tle would  trample  down  our  fields  and  drink 
up  all  our  water.  The  herds  were  so  big." 

"  Suppose  the  cattle  would  drink  the  water," 
replied  Forrest,  "the  owner  would  pay  for  it, 
which  would  be  better  than  letting  it  go  to 
waste.  One  day's  hot  winds  would  absorb 
more  water  than  the  biggest  herd  of  cattle 
could  drink.  This  ain't  no  farming  country." 

"That's  so,"  admitted  Dell;  "we  only  had 
one  mess  of  peas  this  season,  and  our  potatoes 
are  n't  bigger  than  marbles.  Now,  let  me  rub 
your  knee,  there  where  the  bullet  skipped,  be- 
tween the  bandages." 

The  rubbing  over,  Forrest  pressed  home 
the  idea  of  abandoning  farming  for  cattle 
ranching.  "  What  your  father  ought  to  have 
done,"  said  he,  "  was  to  have  made  friends 
with  the  Texas  drovers ;  given  them  the  water, 
with  or  without  price,  and  bought  any  crip- 
ples or  sore-footed  cattle.  Nearly  every  herd 
abandons  more  or  less  cattle  on  these  long 
drives,  and  he  could  have  bought  them  for  a 
song  and  sung  it  himself.  The  buffalo  grass 
on  the  divides  and  among  these  sand  hills  is 
the  finest  winter  grazing  in  the  country.  This 
water  that  you  are  wasting  would  have  yearly 
earned  you  one  hundred  head  of  cripples.  A 
month's  rest  on  this  creek  and  they  would 


22  WELLS   BROTHERS 

kick  up  their  heels  and  play  like  calves.  After 
one  winter  on  this  range,  they  would  get  as 
fat  as  plover.  Your  father  missed  his  chance 
by  not  making  friends  with  the  Texas  trail 
men." 

"  Do  you  think  so?  "  earnestly  said  Dell. 

"  I  know  it,"  emphatically  asserted  the 
wounded  man.  "  Hereafter,  you  and  Joel 
want  to  be  friendly  with  these  drovers  and 
their  men.  Cast  your  bread  upon  the  waters." 

"  Mother  used  to  read  that  to  us,"  frankly 
admitted  Dell.  There  was  a  marked  silence, 
only  broken  by  a  clatter  of  hoofs,  and  the  trail 
boss  cantered  up  to  the  tent. 

"That  wagon  track,"  said  he,  dismounting, 
"is  little  more  than  a  dim  trail.  Sorry  I  did  n't 
think  about  it  sooner,but  we  ought  to  have  built 
a  smudge  fire  where  this  road  intersects  the 
cattle  trail.  In  case  the  doctor  does  n't  reach 
there  by  noon,  I  sent  orders  to  fly  a  flag  at 
the  junction,  and  Joel  to  return  home.  But  if 
the  doctor  does  n't  reach  there  until  after  dark- 
ness, he'll  never  see  the  flag,  and  couldn't 
follow  the  trail  if  he  did.  We  '11  have  to  send 
Joel  back." 

"  It 's  my  turn,"  said  Dell.  "  I  know  how  to 
build  a  smudge  fire;  build  it  in  a  circle,  out  of 
cattle  chips,  in  the  middle  of  the  road." 

"  You  're  a  willing  boy,"  said  Priest,  hand- 


HOSPITAL   ON  THE   BEAVER     23 

ing  the  bridle  reins  to  Dell,  "  but  we  '11  wait 
until  Joel  returns.  You  may  water  my  horse 
and  turn  him  in  the  corral." 

The  day  wore  on,  and  near  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon  Joel  came  riding  in.  He  had  waited 
fully  an  hour  after  the  departure  of  the  herd, 
a  flag  had  been  left  unfurled  at  the  junction, 
and  all  other  instructions  delivered.  Both 
Forrest  and  Priest  knew  the  distance  to  the 
ford  on  the  Republican,  and  could  figure  to 
an  hour,  by  different  saddle  gaits,  the  neces- 
sary time  to  cover  the  distance,  even  to  Cul- 
bertson.  Still  there  was  a  measure  of  uncer- 
tainty: the  messenger  might  have  lost  his 
way;  there  might  not  have  been  any  physician 
within  call;  accidents  might  have  happened 
to  horse  or  rider,  —  and  one  hour  wore  away, 
followed  by  another. 

Against  his  will,  Dell  was  held  under  re- 
straint until  six  o'clock.  "  It's  my  intention 
to  follow  him  within  an  hour,"  said  the  fore- 
man, as  the  boy  rounded  a  bluff  and  disap- 
peared. "  He  can  build  the  fire  as  well  as  any 
one,  and  we  '11  return  before  midnight.  That  '11 
give  the  doctor  the  last  minute  and  the  benefit 
of  every  doubt." 

The  foreman's  mount  stood  saddled,  and 
twilight  had  settled  over  the  valley,  when  the 
occupants  of  the  tent  were  startled  by  the  neigh 


24  WELLS   BROTHERS 

of  ahorse.  "That's  Rowdy,"  said  Forrest; 
"  he  always  nickers  when  he  sights  a  wagon 
or  camp.    Dell 's  come." 

Joel  sprang  to  the  open  front.  "  It 's  Dell, 
and  there 's  a  buckboard  following,"  he  whis- 
pered. A  moment  later  the  vehicle  rattled  up, 
led  by  the  irrepressible  Dell,  as  if  in  charge 
of  a  battery  of  artillery.  "  This  is  the  place, 
Doctor,"  said  he,  as  if  dismissing  a  troop  from 
cavalry  drill. 

The  physician  proved  to  be  a  typical  fron- 
tier doctor.  He  had  left  Culbertson  that  morn- 
ing, was  delayed  in  securing  a  relay  team  at 
the  ford  on  the  Republican,  and  still  had  trav- 
eled ninety  miles  since  sunrise.  "  If  it  was  n't 
for  six-shooters  in  this  country,"  said  he,  as 
he  entered  the  tent,  "  we  doctors  would  have 
little  to  do.  Your  men  with  the  herd  told  me 
how  the  accident  happened."  Then  to  For- 
rest, "  Son,  think  it  '11  ever  happen  again?  " 

"  Yes,  unless  you  can  cure  a  fool  from  lend- 
ing his  pistol,"  replied  Forrest. 

"  Certainly.  I  've  noticed  that  similarity  in 
all  gunshot  wounds:  they  usually  offer  good 
excuses.  It's  healing  in  its  nature,"  com- 
mented the  doctor,  as  he  began  removing  the 
bandages.  As  the  examination  proceeded, 
there  was  a  running  comment  maintained, 
bordering  on  the  humorous. 


HOSPITAL  ON   THE  BEAVER    25 

"  If  there  's  no  extra  charge,"  said  Forrest, 
"I  wish  you  would  allow  the  boys  to  see  the 
wounds.  You  might  also  deliver  a  short  lec- 
ture on  the  danger  of  carrying  the  hammer 
of  a  pistol  on  a  loaded  cartridge.  The  boys 
are  young  and  may  take  the  lesson  seriously, 
but  you  're  wasting  good  breath  on  me.  Call 
the  boys  —  I  'm  an  old  dog." 

"  Gunshot  wounds  are  the  only  crop  in  this 
country,"  continued  the  doctor,  ignoring  the 
request,  "not  affected  by  the  drouth.  There's 
an  occasional  outbreak  of  Texas  fever  among 
cattle,  but  that's  not  in  my  department.  Well, 
that  bullet  surely  was  hungry  for  muscle,  but 
fortunately  it  had  a  distaste  for  bone.  This  is 
just  a  simple  case  of  treatment  and  avoiding 
complications.  Six  weeks  to  two  months  and 
you  can  buckle  on  your  six-shooter  again. 
Hereafter,  better  wear  it  on  the  other  side, 
and  if  another  accident  occurs,  it  '11  give  you 
a  hitch  in  each  leg  and  level  you  up." 

"  But  there  may  be  no  fool  loafing  around 
to  borrow  it,"  protested  Forrest. 

"  Never  fear,  son ;  the  fool 's  eternal,"  replied 
the  doctor,  with  a  quiet  wink  at  the  others. 

The  presence  and  unconcern  of  the  old 
physician  dispelled  all  uneasiness,  and  the 
night  passed  without  anxiety,  save  between 
the  boys.  Forrest's  lecture  to  Dell  during  the 


26  WELLS   BROTHERS 

day,  of  the  importance  of  making  friends  with 
the  drovers,  the  value  of  the  water,  the  pur- 
chase of  disabled  cattle,  was  all  carefully  re- 
viewed after  the  boys  were  snugly  in  bed. 
"  Were  you  afraid  of  the  men  with  the  herd 
to-day?  —  afraid  of  the  cowboys?"  inquired 
Dell,  when  the  former  subject  was  exhausted. 

"  Why,  no,"  replied  Joel  rather  scornfully, 
from  the  security  of  his  bunk;  "who  would 
be  afraid  ?  They  are  just  like  any  other  folks." 

Dell  was  skeptical.  "Not  like  the  pictures 
of  cowboys  ?  —  not  shooting  and  galloping  their 
horses?" 

"Why,  you  silly  bo}^,"  said  Joel,  with  con- 
tempt ;  "there  was  n't  a  shot  fired,  their  horses 
were  never  out  of  a  walk,  never  wet  a  hair, 
and  they  changed  to  fresh  ones  at  noon.  The 
only  difference  I  could  see,  they  wore  their 
hats  at  dinner.  And  the}^  were  surely  cowboys, 
because  they  had  over  three  thousand  big 
beeves,  and  had  come  all  the  way  from  Texas." 

"  I  wish  I  could  have  gone,"  was  Dell's 
only  comment. 

"Oh,  it  was  a  great  sight,"  continued  the 
privileged  one.  "The  column  of  cattle  was  a 
mile  long,  the  trail  twice  as  wide  as  a  city 
street,  and  the  cattle  seemed  to  walk  in  loose 
marching  order,  of  their  own  accord.  Not  a 
man  carried  a  whip;  no  one  even  shouted;  no 


i-m 


V^c 


HOSPITAL  ON   THE   BEAVER    27 

one  as  much  as  looked  at  the  cattle;  the  men 
rode  away  off  yonder.  The  herd  seemed  so 
easy  to  handle." 

"  And  how  many  men  did  it  take  ?  "  insisted 
Dell. 

"  Only  eleven  with  the  herd.  And  they  had 
such  queer  names  for  their  places.  Those  in 
the  lead  were  point  men,  those  in  the  middle 
were  swing  men,  and  the  one  who  brought 
up  the  rear  was  the  drag  man.  Then  there 
was  the  cook,  who  drove  the  wagon,  and  the 
wrangler,  who  took  care  of  the  horses  —  over 
one  hundred  and  forty  head.  They  call  the 
band  of  saddle  horses  the  remuda;  one  of 
the  men  told  me  it  was  Spanish  for  relay  —  a 
relay  of  horses." 

"  I  'm  going  the  next  time,"  said  Dell.  "  Mr. 
Quince  said  he  would  buy  us  a  cow  from  the 
next  herd  that  passed." 

"These  were  all  big  beeves  to-da}^,  going 
to  some  fort  on  the  Yellowstone  River.  And 
they  had  such  wide,  sweeping  horns!  And 
the  smartest  cattle !  An  hour  before  noon  one 
of  the  point  men  gave  a  shrill  whistle,  and  the 
whole  column  of  beeves  turned  aside  and 
began  feeding.  The  men  called  it  'throwing 
the  herd  off  the  trail  to  graze.'  It  was  just  like 
saying  halt!  to  soldiers  —  like  we  saw  at  that 
reunion  in  Ohio." 


28  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"  And  you  were  n't  afraid  ?"  timidly  queried 
the  younger  brother. 

"No  one  else  was  afiaid,  and  why  should  I 
be?  I  was  on  horseback.  Stop  asking  foolish 
questions  and  go  to  sleep,"  concluded  Joel, 
with  pitying  finality,  and  turned  to  the  wall. 

"But  suppose  those  big  Texas  beeves  had 
stampeded,  then  what?  "  There  was  challenge 
in  Dell's  voice,  but  the  brother  vouchsafed 
no  answer.  A  seniority  of  years  had  given 
one  a  twelve  hours'  insight  over  the  other, 
in  range  cattle,  and  there  was  no  common 
ground  between  sleepy  bedfellows  to  justify 
further  converse.  "I  piloted  in  the  doctor, 
anyhow,"  said  Dell  defensively.  No  reply 
rewarded  his  assertion. 

Morning  brought  little  or  no  change  in  the 
condition  of  the  wounds.  The  doctor  was  anx- 
ious to  return,  but  Priest  urged  otherwise. 
"  Let's  call  it  Sunday,"  said  he,  "and  not  work 
to-day.  Besides,  if  I  overtake  the  herd,  I  '11 
have  to  make  a  hand.  Wait  until  to-morrow, 
and  we'll  bear  each  other  company.  If  another 
herd  shows  up  on  the  trail  to-day,  it  may  have 
a  cow.  We  must  make  these  boys  comfort- 
able." 

The  doctor  consented  to  stay  over,  and 
amused  himself  by  quarreling  with  his  patient. 
During  the  forenoon  Priest  and  Joel  rode  out  to 


HOSPITAL  ON   THE   BEAVER     29 

the  nearest  high  ground,  from  which  a  grove 
was  seen  on  the  upper  Beaver.  "That's  what 
we  call  Hackberry  Grove,"  said  Joel,  "and 
where  we  get  our  wood.  The  creek  makes 
a  big  bend,  and  all  the  bottom  land  has 
grown  up  with  timber,  some  as  big  as  a 
man's  body.  It  does  n't  look  very  far  away, 
but  it  takes  all  day  to  go  and  come,  hauling 
wood.  There 's  big  springs  just  above,  and 
the  water  never  fails.  That 's  what  makes  the 
trees  so  thrifty." 

"Too  bad  your  father  didn't  start  a  little 
ranch  here,"  said  Priest,  surveying  the  scene. 
"It's  a  natural  cattle  range.  There  are  the 
sand  hills  to  the  south;  good  winter  shelter 
and  a  carpet  of  grass." 

"  We  were  too  poor,"  frankly  admitted  the 
boy.  "  Every  fall  we  had  to  go  to  the  Solomon 
River  to  hunt  work.  With  pa's  pension,  and 
what  we  could  earn,  we  held  down  the  home- 
stead. Last  fall  we  proved  up  ;  pa's  service 
in  the  army  counted  on  the  residence  required. 
It  does  n't  matter  now  if  we  do  leave  it.  All 
Dell  and  I  have  to  do  is  to  keep  the  taxes 
paid." 

"  You  would  be  doing  wrong  to  leave  this 
range,"  said  the  trail  boss  in  fatherly  tones. 
"There's  a  fortune  in  this  grass,  if  you  boys 
only  had  the  cattle  to  eat  it.  Try  and  get  a 


30  WELLS   BROTHERS 

hundred  cows  on  shares,  or  buy  young  steers 
on  a  credit." 

"  Why,  we  have  no  money,  and  no  one 
would  credit  boys,"  ruefully  replied  Joel. 

"You  have  something  better  than  either 
credit  or  money,"  frankly  replied  the  cowman  ; 
"  you  control  this  range.  Make  that  the  basis 
of  your  beginning.  All  these  cattle  that  are 
coming  over  the  trail  are  hunting  a  market 
or  a  new  owner.  Convince  any  man  that  you 
have  the  range,  and  the  cattle  will  be  forth- 
coming to  occupy  it." 

"  But  we  only  hold  a  quarter-section  of 
land,"  replied  the  boy  in  his  bewilderment. 

"  Good.  Take  possession  of  the  range,  oc- 
cupy it  with  cattle,  and  every  one  will  respect 
your  prior  right,"  argued  the  practical  man. 
"  Range  is  being  rapidly  taken  up  in  this 
western  country.  Here's  your  chance.  Water 
and  grass,  world  without  end." 

Joel  was  evidently  embarrassed.  Not  that 
he  questioned  the  older  man's  advice,  but  the 
means  to  the  end  seemed  totally  lacking.  The 
grind  of  poverty  had  been  his  constant  com- 
panion, until  he  scarcely  looked  forward  to 
any  reprieve,  and  the  castles  being  built  and  the 
domain  surveyed  at  the  present  moment  were 
vague  and  misty.  "I  don't  doubt  your  ad- 
vice," admitted  the  boy.  "A  man  could  do  it, 


HOSPITAL  ON   THE   BEAVER     31 

you  could,  but  Dell  and  I  had  better  return  to 
the  settlements.  Mr.  Quince  will  surely  be 
well  by  fall." 

"  Will  you  make  me  a  promise  ? "  frankly 
asked  the  cowman. 

"  I  will,"  eagerly  replied  the  boy. 

"  After  I  leave  to-morrow  morning,  then,  tell 
Forrest  that  you  are  thinking  of  claiming 
Beaver  Creek  as  a  cattle  range.  Ask  him  if  he 
knows  any  way  to  secure  a  few  cows  and 
yearlings  with  which  to  stock  it.  In  the  mean 
time,  think  it  over  yourself.  Will  you  do  that  ?  " 

"Y-e-s,  I — I  will,"  admitted  Joel,  as  if 
trapped  into  the  promise. 

"  Of  course  you  will.  And  ask  him  as  if  life 
and  death  depended  on  securing  the  cattle. 
Forrest  has  been  a  trail  foreman  and  knows 
all  the  drovers  and  their  men.  He  's  liable  to 
remain  with  you  until  the  season  ends.  Now, 
don't  fail  to  ask  him." 

"  Oh,  I  '11  ask  him,"  said  Joel  more  cheer- 
fully. "Did  you  say  that  control  of  a  range 
was  a  basis  on  which  to  start  a  ranch,  and 
that  it  had  a  value  ?  " 

"That's  it.  Now  you're  catching  the  idea. 
Lay  hold  and  never  lose  sight  of  the  fact 
that  a  range  that  will  graze  five  to  ten  thou- 
sand cattle,  the  year  round,  is  as  good  as 
money  in  the  bank." 


32  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Joel's  faculties  were  grappling  with  the 
idea.  The  two  turned  their  horses  homeward, 
casting  an  occasional  glance  to  the  southward, 
but  were  unrewarded  by  the  sight  of  a  dust 
cloud,  the  signal  of  an  approaching  herd.  The 
trail  foreman  was  satisfied  that  he  had  instilled 
interest  and  inquiry  into  the  boy's  mind,  which, 
if  carefully  nurtured,  might  result  in  independ- 
ence. They  had  ridden  several  miles,  discuss- 
ing different  matters,  and  when  within  sight 
of  the  homestead,  Joel  reined  in  his  horse. 
"Would  you  mind  repeating,"  said  he,  "what 
you  said  awhile  ago,  about  control  of  a  range 
by  prior  rights  ?  " 

The  trail  foreman  freely  responded  to  the 
awakened  interest.  "  On  the  range,"  said  he, 
"  custom  becomes  law.  No  doubt  but  it  dates 
back  to  the  first  flocks  and  herds.  Its  founda- 
tions rest  on  a  sense  of  equity  and  justice 
which  has  always  existed  among  pastoral 
people.  In  America  it  dates  from  the  first  in- 
vasion of  the  Spanish.  Among  us  Texans,  a 
man's  range  is  respected  equally  with  his 
home.  By  merely  laying  claim  to  the  grazing 
privileges  of  public  domain,  and  occupying 
it  with  flocks  or  herds,  the  consent  of  custom 
gives  a  man  possession.  It  is  an  asset  that  is 
bought  and  sold,  and  is  only  lost  when  aban- 
doned. In  all  human  migrations,  this  custom 


HOSPITAL  ON   THE  BEAVER    33 

has  followed  flocks  and  herds.  Title  to  land 
is  the  only  condition  to  which  the  custom 
yields." 

"  And  we  could  claim  this  valley,  by  simply 
occupying  it  with  cattle,  and  hold  possession 
of  its  grazing  privileges  ?  "  repeated  the  boy. 

"  By  virtue  of  a  custom,  older  than  any  law, 
you  surely  can.  It's  primal  range  to-day.  This 
is  your  epoch.  The  buffalo  preceded  you,  the 
settler,  seeking  a  home,  will  follow  you.  The 
opportunity  is  yours.  Go  in  and  win." 

"But  how  can  we  get  a  start  of  cattle?" 
pondered  Joel. 

"  Well,  after  I  leave,  you  're  going  to  ask 
Forrest  that  question.  That  old  boy  knows  all 
the  ins  and  outs,  and  he  may  surprise  you. 
There  's  an  old  maxim  about  where  there  's  a 
will  there 's  a  way.  Now  if  you  have  the  will, 
I've  a  strong  suspicion  that  your  Mr.  Quince 
will  find  the  way.  Try  him,  anyhow." 

"'Oh,  I  will,"  assured  Joel;  "the  first  thing 
in  the  morning." 

The  leaven  of  interest  had  found  lodgment. 
A  pleasant  evening  was  spent  in  the  tent.  Be- 
fore excusing  the  lads  for  the  night,  Priest 
said  to  the  doctor:  "  This  is  a  fine  cattle  range, 
and  I'd  like  your  opinion  about  these  boys 
starting  a  little  ranch  on  the  Beaver." 

"Well,"    said    the  old    physician,  looking 


34  WELLS   BROTHERS 

from  Joel  to  Dell,  "  there  are  too  many  law- 
yers and  doctors  already.  The  farmers  raise 
nothing  out  here,  and  about  the  only  pros- 
perous people  I  meet  are  you  cowmen.  You 
ride  good  horses,  have  means  to  secure  your 
needs,  and  your  general  health  is  actually  dis- 
couraging to  my  profession.  Yes,  I  think  I  '11 
have  to  approve  of  the  suggestion.  A  life  in 
the  open,  an  evening  by  a  camp-fire,  a  saddle 
for  a  pillow  —  well,  I  wish  I  had  my  life  to 
live  over.  It  would  n't  surprise  me  to  hear 
of  Wells  Brothers  making  a  big  success  as 
ranchmen.  They  have  health  and  youth,  and 
there  's  nothing  like  beginning  at  the  bottom 
of  the  ladder.  In  fact,  the  proposition  has  my 
hearty  approval.  Fight  it  out,  boys  ;  start  a 
ranch." 

"Come  on,  Dell,"  said  Joel,  leading  the 
way;  "these  gentlemen  want  to  make  an  early 
start.  You  '11  have  to  bring  in  the  horses  while 
I  get  breakfast.  Come  on." 


CHAPTER   III 

THE    BOTTOM    RUNG 

AN  early  start  was  delayed.  Joel  had 
figured  without  his  guest,  as  the 
L  Texan  stands  in  a  class  by  himself. 
The  peace  and  serenity  of  pastoral  life  affects 
its  people,  influencing  their  normal  natures 
into  calm  and  tranquil  ways.  Hence,  instead 
of  the  expected  start  at  sunrise,  after  breakfast 
the  trail  foreman  languidly  sauntered  out  to 
the  corral,  followed  by  the  boys. 

The  old  physician,  even,  grew  impatient. 
"  What  on  earth  do  you  think  is  detaining  that 
man  ?  "  he  inquired  of  Forrest.  "  Here  the  sun 
is  nearly  an  hour  high,  and  not  a  wheel  turn- 
ing. And  I  can  see  him  from  the  tent  opening, 
sitting  on  a  log,  flicking  the  ground  with  his 
quirt  and  chatting  with  those  boys.  What  do 
you  suppose  they  are  talking  about?" 

"Well,  now,  that's  a  hard  question,"  an- 
swered Forrest.  "I  '11  chance  the  subject  is  of 
no  importance.  Just  a  little  social  powwow 
with  the  boys,  most  likely.  Sit  down.  Doctor, 
and  take  life  easy — the  cows  will  calve  in  the 
spring." 


36  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Patience  had  almost  ceased  to  be  a  virtue 
when  the  trail  boss  put  in  an  appearance  at 
the  tent.  "  You  are  in  no  particular  hurry,  are 
you,  Doctor?"  he  inquired,  with  a  friendly 
smile. 

"Oh,  no,"  said  the  physician,  with  delightful 
irony;  "  I  was  just  thinking  of  having  the  team 
unhooked,  and  lay  over  another  day.  Still,  I 
am  some  little  distance  from  home,  and  have 
a  family  that  likes  to  see  me  occasionally." 

The  buckboard  rattled  away.  "  Come  in  the 
tent,"  called  Forrest  to  the  boys.  "  If  old  Paul 
sees  you  standing  out  there,  he  's  liable  to  think 
of  something  and  come  back.  Honestly,  when 
it  comes  to  killing  time,  that  old  boy  is  the  bell 
steer." 

Only  three  were  now  left  at  the  homestead. 
The  first  concern  was  to  intercept  the  next 
passing  herd.  Forrest  had  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance among  trail  foremen,  had  met  many  of 
them  at  Dodge  only  ten  days  before,  while 
passing  that  supply  point,  and  it  was  a  matter 
of  waiting  until  a  herd  should  appear. 

There  was  little  delay.  Joel  was  sent  at  ten 
o'clock  to  the  nearest  swell,  and  Dell  an  hour 
later.  The  magic  was  working  overtime;  the 
dust  cloud  was  there!  In  his  haste  to  deliver 
the  message,  the  sentinel's  horse  tore  past  the 
tent  and  was  only  halted  at  the  corral.  "  It 's 


THE  BOTTOM   RUNG  37 

there ! "  he  shouted,  returning,  peering  through 
the  tent-flaps.  "They're  coming;  another 
herd's  coming.  It's  in  the  dip  behind  the  first 
divide.  Shall  I  go?  I  saw  it  first." 

"Dismount and  rest  your  saddle,"  said  For- 
rest. "  Come  in  and  let 's  make  a  little  medicine. 
If  this  herd  has  one,  here 's  where  we  get  a  cow. 
Come  in  and  we  '11  plot  against  the  Texans." 

With  great  misgiving,  Dell  dismounted.  As 
he  entered  the  tent,  Forrest  continued:  "Sit 
on  the  corner  of  my  bunk,  and  we  '11  talk  the 
situation  over.  Oh,  I  'm  going  to  send  you, 
never  fear.  Now,  the  trouble  is,  we  don't 
know  whose  herd  this  may  be,  and  you  must 
play  innocent  and  foxy.  If  the  herd  is  behind 
the  first  divide,  it'll  water  in  the  Beaver  about 
four  o'clock.  Now,  ride  down  the  creek  and 
keep  your  eagle  eye  open  for  a  lone  horse- 
man, either  at  the  crossing  or  on  the  trail. 
That's  the  foreman,  and  that's  the  man  we 
want  to  see.  He  may  be  ten  miles  in  the  lead 
of  his  herd,  and  you  want  to  ride  straight  to 
him.  Give  him  all  the  information  you  can 
regarding  the  water,  and  inquire  if  this  is  one 
of  Lovell's  herds.  That  will  put  you  on  a 
chatting  basis,  and  then  lead  up  to  your  er- 
rand. Tell  him  that  you  are  running  a  trail 
hospital,  and  that  you  have  a  wounded  man 
named  Quince  Forrest  at  your  camp,  and  ask 


38  WELLS  BROTHERS 

the  foreman  to  come  up  and  see  him.  Once 
you  get  him  here,  your  work  is  over,  except 
going  back  after  the  cow." 

Dell  was  impatient  to  be  off,  and  started  for 
the  opening.  "  Hold  on,"  commanded  For- 
rest, "  or  I  '11  put  a  rope  on  you.  Now,  ride 
slowly,  let  your  horse  set  his  own  pace,  and 
don't  come  back  without  your  man.  Make 
out  that  I  'm  badly  wounded,  and  that  you 
feel  uneasy  that  blood  poisoning  may  set  in." 

The  messenger  lost  no  time  in  getting 
away.  Once  out  of  sight  of  the  tent,  Dell 
could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  gallop  his 
mount  over  level  places.  Carrying  the  weight 
of  a  boy  was  nothing  to  the  horse,  and  before 
half  an  hour  had  passed,  the  ford  and  trail 
came  in  view  of  the  anxious  courier.  Halting 
in  order  to  survey  the  horizon,  the  haze  and 
heat-waves  of  summer  so  obstructed  his  view 
that  every  object  looked  blurred  and  indis- 
tinct. Even  the  dust  cloud  was  missing;  and 
pushing  on  a  mile  farther,  he  reined  in  again. 
Now  and  then  in  the  upper  sky,  an  interven- 
ing cloud  threw  a  shadow  over  the  plain,  re- 
vealing objects  more  distinctly.  For  a  mo- 
ment one  rested  over  the  trail  crossing,  and 
like  prophecy  fulfilled,  there  was  the  lone 
horseman  at  the  ford ! 

In  the  waste  places  it  is  a  pleasure  to  unex- 


THE   BOTTOM   RUNG  39 

pectedly  meet  a  fellow  being.  Before  being 
observed,  Dell  rode  within  hailing  distance, 
when  the  horses  neighed  to  each  other  in 
greeting,  and  man  and  boy  were  soon  in 
friendly  converse.  There  was  water  sufficient 
for  all  needs,  the  herd  required  no  pilot,  the 
summons  found  a  ready  response,  and  the 
two  were  soon  riding  up  the  Beaver  in  a  jog 
trot. 

The  gait  admitted  of  free  conversation,  and 
the  new  foreman  soon  had  Dell  on  the  defen- 
sive. "  I  always  hate  to  follow  a  Lovell  out- 
fit," said  the  stranger  regretfully;  "they're 
always  in  trouble.  Old  man  Don 's  a  nice 
enough  man,  but  he  sure  works  sorry  outfits 
on  the  trail.  I  Ve  been  expecting  to  hear  some- 
thing like  this.  If  it  is  n't  rebranding  their 
saddle  stock  with  nigger  brands,  it 's  sure  to  be 
something  worse.  And  now  that  flat-headed 
Quince  Forrest  plows  a  fire-guard  down  his 
own  leg  with  a  six-shooter!  Well,  wouldn't 
that  sour  sweet  milk !  " 

"Oh,  it  wasn't  his  fault,"  protested  Dell; 
"  he  only  loaned  his  pistol,  and  it  was  re- 
turned with  the  hammer  on  a  cartridge." 

"Of  course,"  disgustedly  assented  the  trail 
boss;  "  with  me  it's  an  old  story.  Had  n't  no 
more  sabe  than  to  lend  his  gun  to  some 
prowling   tenderfoot.     More  than  likely  he 


40  WELLS   BROTHERS 

urged  its  loan  on  this  short-horn.  Yes,  I  know 
Colonel  Forrest;  I've  known  him  to  bet  his 
saddle  and  ride  bareback  as  the  result.  It 
shows  his  cow-sense.  Rather  shallow-brained 
to  be  allowed  so  far  from  home." 

"Well,"  contended  poor  Dell,  "they  surely 
were  no  friends.  At  least  Mr.  Qiiince  don't 
speak  very  highly  of  that  man." 

"  That 's  his  hindsight,"  said  the  trail  fore- 
man. "  If  the  truth  ever  comes  out,  you  '11 
notice  his  foresight  was  different.  Colonel 
Quince  is  famous,  after  the  horse  is  stolen, 
for  locking  the  stable  door.  That  other  time 
he  offered  to  take  an  oath,  on  a  stack  of 
Bibles,  never  to  bet  his  saddle  again.  The 
trouble  is  the  game  never  repeats;  the  play 
never  comes  up  twice  alike.  If  that  old  boy's 
gray  matter  ever  comes  to  full  bloom,  long 
before  his  allotted  time,  he  '11  wither  away." 

Dell  was  discouraged.  He  realized  that  his 
defense  of  his  friend  was  weak.  This  second 
foreman  seemed  so  different  from  either  Priest 
or  Forrest.  He  spoke  with  such  deep  regret 
of  the  seeming  faults  of  others  that  the  boy 
never  doubted  his  sincerity.  He  even  ques- 
tioned Dell  with  such  an  innocent  counte- 
nance that  the  lad  withered  before  his  glance, 
and  became  disheartened  at  the  success  of  the 
errand.  Forced  to  the  defense  continually,  on 


THE   BOTTOM   RUNG  41 

several  occasions  Dell  nearly  betrayed  the 
object  of  bringing  the  new  man  to  the  home- 
stead, but  in  each  instance  was  saved  by  some 
fortunate  turn  in  the  conversation.  Never 
was  sight  more  welcome  than  the  tent,  glis- 
tening in  the  sun,  and  never  was  relief  from 
duty  more  welcome  to  a  courier.  The  only 
crumb  of  comfort  left  to  the  boy  who  had  rid- 
den forth  so  boldly  was  that  he  had  not  be- 
trayed the  object  of  his  mission  and  had 
brought  the  range  men  together.  Otherwise 
his  banner  was  trailing  in  the  dust. 

The  two  rode  direct  to  the  tent.  During 
the  middle  of  the  day,  in  order  to  provide  free 
ventilation,  the  walls  were  tucked  up,  and 
the  flaps,  rear  and  front,  thrown  wide  open. 
Stretched  on  his  bunk,  Forrest  watched  the 
opening,  and  when  darkened  by  the  new  ar- 
rival, the  wounded  man's  greeting  was  most 
cordial.  "Well,  if  it  isn't  old  Nat  Straw," 
said  he,  extending  his  hand.  "Here,  I've 
been  running  over  in  my  mind  the  different 
trail  bosses  who  generally  go  north  of  the 
Platte  River,  but  you  escaped  my  memory. 
It  must  have  gotten  into  my  mind,  somehow, 
that  you  had  married  and  gone  back  to  chop- 
ping cotton.  Still  driving  for  Uncle  Jess  Elli- 
son, I  reckon  ?  " 

"  Yes,  still  cler]<:ing  for  the  same  drover," 


42  WELLS   BROTHERS 

admitted  Straw,  glancing  at  the  wounded  limb. 
"  What 's  this  I  hear  about  you  laying  off,  and 
trying  to  eat  some  poor  nester  out  of  house 
and  home?   You  must  be  getting  doty." 

"Enjoy  yourself,  Nat.  The  laugh's  on  me. 
I  'm  getting  discouraged  that  I  '11  ever  have 
common  horse  sense.  Is  n't  it  a  shame  to  be 
a  fool  all  your  life!  " 

Straw  glanced  from  the  bunk  to  Dell.  "I 
was  just  telling  the  boy,  as  we  rode  up  the 
creek,  that  you  needed  a  whole  heap  of  fixing 
in  your  upper  loft.  The  poor  boy  tried  his 
best  to  defend  you,  but  it  was  easy  to  see  that 
he  had  n't  known  you  long." 

"  And  of  course  you  strung  him  for  all  he 
could  carry,"  said  Forrest.  "  Here,  Dell.  You 
were  in  such  a  hurry  to  get  away  that  I  over- 
looked warning  you  against  these  trail  var- 
mints. Right  now,  I  can  see  old  Nat  leading 
you  in  under  a  wet  blanket,  and  your  colors 
dragging.  Don't  believe  a  word  he  told  you, 
and  don't  even  give  him  a  pleasant  look  while 
he  stays  here." 

The  discouraged  boy  brightened,  and  Joel 
and  Dell  were  excused,  to  water  and  picket 
the  horses.  "  You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of 
yourself,"  resumed  Forrest,  "brow-beating 
that  boy.  Considering  my  hard  luck,  I  've 
fallen    into    angels'    hands.    These  boys   are 


THE   BOTTOM    RUNG  43 

darling  fellows.  Now  before  you  leave,  square 
yourself  with  that  youngest  one." 

"  A  little  jollying  while  he  's  young  won't 
hurt  him,"  replied  Straw.  "It's  not  a  bad 
idea  to  learn  early  to  believe  nothing  that  you 
hear  and  only  half  of  what  you  see.  If  you 
had  been  taken  snipe  hunting  oftener  when 
you  were  young,  it  would  n't  hurt  you  any 
now.  There  are  just  about  so  many  knocks 
coming  to  each  of  us,  and  we  Ve  got  to  take 
them  along  with  the  croup,  chicken-pox,  mea- 
sles, and  mumps." 

During  the  absence  of  the  boys,  Forrest  in- 
formed Straw  of  the  sad  condition  which  con- 
fronted the  lads,  when  accident  and  necessity 
threw  him  into  their  hands.  He  also  repeated 
Priest's  opinion  of  the  valuable  range,  unoc- 
cupied above  on  the  Beaver,  and  urged  his 
assistance  in  securing  some  cattle  with  which 
to  stock  and  claim  it  for  the  boys. 

"  There  's  plenty  of  flotsam  on  the  trail," 
said  he,  "  strays  and  sore-footed  cattle,  to  oc- 
cupy this  valley  and  give  these  boys  a  start  in 
life.  I  never  even  got  thanked  for  a  stray,  and 
I  've  turned  hundreds  of  them  loose  on  these 
upper  ranges,  refused  on  the  delivery  of  a 
herd.  Somebody  gets  them,  and  I  want  these 
boys  of  mine  to  get  a  few  hundred  head  dur- 
ing this  summer.    Here 's  the  place  to  drop 


44  WELLS   BROTHERS 

your  cripples  and  stray  cows.  From  what 
Paul  says,  there  's  range  above  here  for  thou- 
sands of  cattle,  and  that 's  the  foundation  of  a 
ranch.  Without  a  hoof  on  it,  it  has  a  value  in 
proportion  to  its  carrying  capacity,  and  Priest 
and  I  want  these  boys  to  secure  it.  They  've 
treated  me  white,  and  I  'm  going  to  make  a 
fight  for  them." 

The  appeal  was  not  in  vain.  "  Why  not," 
commented  Straw.  "  Let  me  in  and  we  '11 
make  it  three-handed.  My  herd  is  contracted 
again  this  year  to  the  same  cattle  company  on 
the  Crazy  Woman,  in  Wyoming,  as  last  sea- 
son, and  I  want  to  fool  them  this  trip.  They 
got  gay  on  my  hands  last  summer,  held  me 
down  to  the  straight  road  brand  at  delivery, 
and  I  '11  see  to  it  that  there  are  no  strays  in 
my  herd  this  year.  I  went  hungry  for  fresh 
beef,  and  gave  those  sharks  over  forty  good 
strays.  They  knew  I  'd  have  to  leave  them 
behind  me.    Watch  me  do  it  again." 

"  About  how  many  have  you  now,  and  how 
do  they  run  ?  " 

"They're  a  hit-and-miss  lot,  like  strays  al- 
ways are.  Run  from  a  good  cow  down  to 
yearlings.  There  ought  to  be  about  twenty- 
five  head,  and  I  '11  cut  you  out  live  or  six 
cripples.  They  could  never  make  it  through, 
nohow." 


THE   BOTTOM   RUNG  45 

^'  Any  calves  among  the  strays  ?  " 

"  Two  or  three." 

"Good  enough.  Give  each  of  the  boys  a 
cow  and  calf,  and  the  others  to  me.  We  '11 
let  on  that  I  've  bought  them." 

That  no  time  might  be  lost  in  friendly  chat, 
a  late  dinner  was  eaten  in  the  tent.  Straw 
would  have  to  meet  his  herd  at  the  trail  cross- 
ing that  afternoon,  which  would  afford  an 
opportunity  to  cut  out  all  strays  and  cripples. 
One  of  the  boys  would  return  with  him,  for 
the  expected  cow,  and  when  volunteers  were 
called  for,  Dell  hesitated  in  offering  his  serv- 
ices. "  I  '11  excuse  you,"  said  Straw  to  Joel, 
who  had  jumped  at  the  chance.  "  I  'm  a  little 
weak  on  this  red-headed  boy,  and  when  a  cow 
hand  picks  on  me  for  his  side  partner,  the 
choice  holds  until  further  orders.  Bring  in 
the  horses  off  picket,  son,  and  we  '11  be  riding." 

The  latter  order  was  addressed  to  Dell.  No 
sooner  had  the  boy  departed  than  Straw  turned 
to  Joel.  "I've  fallen  head  over  ears  in  love 
with  the  idea  of  this  trail  hospital.  Just  where 
it  ought  to  be;  just  about  midway  between 
Dodge  and  Ogalalla.  Of  course  I  'm  hog  wild 
to  get  in  on  it.  I  might  get  a  man  hurt  any 
day,  might  get  sick  myself,  and  I  want  to  be 
a  stockholder  in  this  hospital  of  yours.  What's 
your  favorite  color  in  cows?" 


46  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Joel's  caution  caused  him  to  hesitate.  "If 
you  have  one,  send  me  a  milk-white  cow  -with 
a  black  face^'^  instantly  said  Forrest.  "  White 
cows  are  rich  in  cream,  and  I  'm  getting  pee- 
vish, having  to  drink  black  coffee." 

"  A  white  cow  for  you,"  said  Straw,  nod- 
ding to  Forrest,  "and  what  color  for  you?" 
But  Joel,  although  half  convinced,  made  no 
answer. 

"  Send  him  a  red  one,"  authorized  Forrest; 
"  red  steers  bring  a  dollar  a  head  more  than 
mongrel  colors." 

"  A  red  cow  and  calf  for  Joel,  a  white  one 
for  milk,  and  Dell  can  pick  his  own,"  said 
Straw,  murmuring  a  memorandum.  "Now, 
that  little  passel  of  cripples,  and  odds  and 
ends,"  again  nodding  to  Forrest,  "  that  I  'm 
sawing  off  on  you,  I  '11  bring  them  up  with 
the  cows.  Yes,  I  'm  coming  back  and  stay  all 
night." 

Joel  lost  all  doubts  on  the  moment.  The 
trail  boss  was  coming  back,  was  going  to 
bring  each  one  a  cow.  There  was  no  question 
but  that  this  stranger  had  the  cattle  in  his 
possession;  surely  he  would  not  trifle  with 
his  own  people,  with  an  unfortunate,  wounded 
man.  All  this  seemed  so  in  keeping  with  the 
partial  outline  of  Priest,  the  old  gray-haired 
foreman,  that  the  boy's  caution  gave  place  to 


THE  BOTTOM   RUNG  47 

firm  belief.  If  generous  princes  ever  walked 
the  earth,  it  was  just  possible  that  liberal 
ones  in  the  rough  were  still  riding  it  in  dis- 
guise. 

Joel  hastened  to  his  brother  with  the  news. 
"  It 's  all  right,"  said  he,  throwing  the  saddle  on 
Straw's  horse.  "  You  go  right  along  with  this 
strange  foreman.  He  gave  Mr.  Quince  a  milk 
cow,  a  white  one,  and  you  're  to  pick  one  for 
yourself.  If  I  were  going  in  your  place,  I'd 
pick  a  red  one;  red  cattle  are  worth  a  dollar 
a  head  more  than  any  other  color." 

There  was  something  in  Joel's  voice  that 
told  Dell  that  his  brother  had  not  been  forgot- 
ten. "And  you?  —  don't  you?"  stammered 
the  younger  boy. 

"Mr.  Quince  picked  out  a  cow  and  calf  for 
me,"  replied  Joel,  with  a  loftiness  that  two 
years'  seniority  confers  on  healthy  boys.  "  I 
left  it  to  him  to  choose  mine.  You  'd  better 
pick  out  a  red  one.  And  say,  this  hospital  of 
ours  is  the  real  thing.  It's  the  only  one  be- 
tween Dodge  and  Ogalalla.  This  strange  fore- 
man wants  to  take  stock  in  it.  I  wonder  if 
that  was  what  he  meant  by  sawing  off  a  little 
passel  of  cattle  on  Mr.  Quince.  Now,  don't 
argue  or  ask  foolish  questions,  but  keep  your 
eyes  and  ears  open." 

Fortified  anew  in  courage,  Dell  accompa- 


48  WELLS   BROTHERS 

nied  the  trail  boss  to  meet  his  herd.  It  was  a 
short  hour's  ride,  and  on  sighting  the  cattle, 
then  nearing  the  crossing,  they  gave  rein  to 
their  horses  and  rode  for  the  rear  of  the  long 
column,  where,  in  the  rear-guard  of  the  trail- 
ing cattle,  naturally  the  sore  and  tender-footed 
animals  were  to  be  found.  The  drag  men 
knew  them  to  a  hoof,  were  delighted  to  hear 
that  all  cripples  were  to  be  dropped,  and  half 
a  dozen  were  cut  off  and  started  up  the  Bea- 
ver. "  Nurse  them  to  the  nearest  water,"  said 
Straw  to  the  drag  men,  "  and  then  push  them 
up  the  creek  until  I  overtake  you.  Here  's 
where  we  drop  our  strays  and  cripples.  What? 
No,  I  'm  only  endowing  a  trail  hospital." 

The  herd  numbered  thirty-one  hundred 
two-year-old  steers.  They  tilled  the  channel 
of  the  Beaver  for  a  mile  around  the  crossing, 
crowding  into  the  deeper  pools,  and  thrash- 
ing up  and  down  the  creek  in  slaking  their 
thirst.  Dell  had  never  seen  so  many  cattle, 
almost  as  uniform  in  size  as  that  many  mar- 
bles, and  the  ease  with  which  a  few  men  han- 
dled the  herd  became  a  nine-day  wonder  to 
the  astonished  boy.  And  when  the  word  passed 
around  to  cut  all  strays  up  the  creek,  the  facility 
with  which  the  men  culled  out  the  alien  down 
to  one  class  and  road  brand,  proved  them  mas- 
ters in  the  craft.    It  seemed  as  easily  done  as 


THE   BOTTOM   RUNG  49 

selecting  a  knife  from  among  the  other  trinkets 
in  a  boy's  pocket. 

After  a  change  of  mounts  for  the  foreman, 
Dell  and  the  trail  boss  drifted  the  strays  up  the 
creek.  The  latter  had  counted  and  classed 
them  as  cut  out  of  the  herd,  and  when  thrown 
together  with  the  cripples,  the  promised  little 
passel  numbered  thirty-five  cattle,  not  count- 
ing three  calves.  Straw  excused  his  men,  pro- 
mising to  overtake  them  the  next  morning,  and 
man  and  boy  drifted  the  nucleus  of  a  future 
ranch  toward  the  homestead. 

"Barring  that  white  cow  and  the  red  one 
with  the  speckled  calf,"  said  Straw  to  Dell, 
pointing  out  each,  "  you  're  entitled  to  pick 
one  for  yourself.  Now,  I'm  not  going  to 
hurry  you  in  making  your  choice.  Any  time 
before  we  sight  the  tent  and  shack,  you  are 
to  pick  one  for  your  own  dear  cow,  and  stand 
by  your  choice,  good  or  bad.  Remember,  it 
carries  my  compliments  to  you,  as  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  first  hospital  on  the  Texas  and 
Montana  cattle  trail." 

Two  miles  below  the  homestead,  the  half- 
dozen  cripples  were  dropped  to  the  rear. 
"You  can  come  back  to-morrow  morning  and 
get  these  tender  steers,"  said  the  foreman, 
"  and  drift  them  up  above  the  improvements. 
You  '11    find   them    near  here  on  the  water. 


50  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Now,  we  '11  sight  the  tent  around  the  next 
bend,  and  you  may  point  out  your  choice." 

"  I  '11  take  that  red  steer,"  said  Dell  with 
marked  decision,  pointing  out  a  yearling. 

A  peal  of  laughter  greeted  his  choice. 
"That's  a  boy,"  shouted  Straw;  "shoot  at  a 
buck  and  kill  a  fawn !  Why  did  n't  you  take 
that  black  cow  and  calf?  " 

"I  like  red  cattle  the  best,"  replied  Dell, 
undaunted.  "  I  've  heard  they  bring  a  better 
price.  I'll  own  the  only  red  steer  in  the 
bunch." 

"Yes,  but  when  your  choice  is  a  beef,  that 
black  cow  and  her  increase  would  buy  two 
beeves.  Dell,  if  you  ever  get  to  be  a  cowman, 
you  '11  have  to  do  some  of  your  own  thinking." 

Dell's  mistake  was  in  listening  to  others. 
Joel  was  equally  guilty,  as  his  lofty  comments 
regarding  red  cattle  were  derived  from  the 
random  remarks  of  Forrest.  The  brothers 
were  novices  in  range  cattle,  and  Dell's  error 
was  based  in  not  relying  on  his  own  judgment. 

On  sighting  the  approaching  cattle,  For- 
rest's bunk  was  eased  around  to  the  tent  open- 
ing, Joel  holding  the  flaps  apart,  and  the  little 
herd  was  grazed  past  at  a  snail's  pace  in  re- 
view. Leaving  Dell  to  nurse  the  nucleus 
past  the  improvements,  Straw  dismounted  at 
the  tent.    "  Well,"  said  he,  handing  the  bridle 


THE   BOTTOM   RUNG  51 

reins  to  Joel,  "  that  red-headed  Dell  is  surely 
the  making  of  a  great  cowman.  All  success- 
ful men  begin  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  and 
he  surely  put  his  foot  on  the  lowest  rung. 
What  do  you  suppose  his  choice  was?" 

"The  bottom  rung  suggests  a  yearling," 
said  Forrest. 

"  Stand  up.  You  spelled  the  word  correct. 
I  'm  a  sheep  herder,  if  he  did  n't  pick  out  the 
only,  little,  old,  red,  dobe  steer  in  the  entire 
bunch!" 

Forrest  eased  himself  down  on  the  bunk, 
unable  to  restrain  his  laughter.  "Well,"  said 
he,  "  we  all  have  to  learn,  and  no  one  can  say 
Dell  was  n't  true  to  his  colors." 


CHAPTER   IV 

THE    BROTHERS    CLAIM    A    RANGE 

THE  next  morning  Straw  dallied  about 
until  Dell  brought  up  the  crippled 
cattle.  They  were  uniform  in  size; 
rest  was  the  one  thing  needful,  and  it  now 
would  be  theirs  amid  bountiful  surroundings. 
They  were  driven  up  among  the  others,  now 
scattered  about  in  plain  sight  in  the  valley 
above,  presenting  a  morning  scene  of  pastoral 
contentment. 

"  Even  the  calves  are  playing  this  morn- 
ing," said  Straw  to  Forrest,  as  the  former  en- 
tered the  tent.  "A  few  cattle  surely  make 
this  valley  look  good.  What  you  want  to  do 
now  is  to  keep  on  drawing  more.  Don't  al- 
low no  outfit  to  pass  without  chipping  in,  at 
least  give  them  the  chance,  and  this  trail  hos- 
pital will  be  on  velvet  in  no  time.  Of  course, 
all  Lovell  outfits  will  tear  their  shirts  boost- 
ing the  endowment  fund,  but  that  need  n't  bar 
the  other  herds.  Some  outfits  may  have  no 
cattle,  but  they  can  chip  in  a  sore-back  or 
crippled  pony.  My  idea  is  to  bar  no  one,  and 
if  they  won't  come  in,  give  them  a  chance 


THE  BROTHERS  CLAIM  A  RANGE  53 

to  say  they  don't  want  to.  You  ought  to 
send  word  back  to  Dodge;  any  foreman  going 
east  or  west  from  there  would  give  you  his 
strays." 

The  conception  of  a  trail  refuge  had  taken 
root.  The  supply  points  were  oases  for  amuse- 
ment, but  a  halfway  haven  for  the  long 
stretches  of  unsettled  country,  during  the  ex- 
odus of  Texas  cattle  to  the  Northwest,  was 
an  unknown  port.  The  monotony  of  from 
three  to  five  months  on  the  trail,  night  and 
day  work,  was  tiring  to  men,  while  a  glass  of 
milk  or  even  an  hour  in  the  shade  was  a  dis- 
tinct relief.  Straw  was  reluctant  to  go,  return- 
ing to  make  suggestions,  by  way  of  excuse, 
and  not  until  forced  by  the  advancing  day  did 
he  mount  and  leave  to  overtake  his  herd. 

Again  the  trio  was  left  alone.  Straw  had 
given  Forrest  a  list  of  brands  and  a  classifica- 
tion of  the  cattle  contributed,  and  a  lesson  in 
reading  brands  was  given  the  boys.  "  Brands 
read  from  left  to  right,"  said  Forrest  to  the 
pair  of  attentive  listeners,  "  or  downward.  If 
more  than  one  brand  is  on  an  animal,  the 
upper  one  is  the  holding  or  one  in  which 
ownership  is  vested.  Character  brands  are 
known  by  name,  and  are  used  because  diffi- 
cult to  alter.  There  is  scarcely  a  letter  in  the 
alphabet   that   a   cattle   thief    can't    change. 


54  WELLS   BROTHERS 

When  a  cow  brute  leaves  its  home  range, 
it's  always  a  temptation  to  some  rustler  to 
alter  the  brand,  and  characters  are  not  so 
easily  changed." 

The  importance  of  claiming  the  range  was 
pressing,  and  now  that  cattle  were  occupying 
it,  the  opportunity  presented  itself.  A  notice 
was  accordingly  written,  laying  claim  to  all 
grazing  rights,  from  the  Texas  and  Montana 
trail  crossing  on  Beaver  to  the  headwaters  of 
the  same,  including  all  its  tributaries,  by  vir- 
tue of  possession  and  occupancy  vested  in  the 
claimants,  Wells  Brothers.  "  How  does  that 
sound?  "  inquired  Forrest,  its  author,  giving  a 
literal  reading  of  the  notice.  "  Nothing  small 
or  stingy  about  that,  eh.^  When  you're  get- 
ting, get  a-plenty." 

"  But  where  are  we  to  get  the  cattle  to 
stock  such  a  big  country  ?  "  pondered  Joel. 
"  It 's  twenty  miles  to  the  head  of  this  creek." 

"  We  might  as  well  lay  big  plans  as  little 
ones.  Here  's  where  we  make  a  spoon  or  spoil 
a  horn.  Saddle  a  horse  and  post  this  notice 
down  at  the  trail  crossing.  Sink  a  stake 
where  every  one  can  see  it,  and  nail  your 
colors  to  the  sign-board.  We  are  the  people, 
and  must  be  respected." 

Joel  hastened  away  to  post  the  important 
notice.   Dell  was  detailed  on  sentinel   duty, 


THE  BROTHERS  CLAIM  A  RANGE  55 

on  lookout  for  another  herd,  but  each  trip  he 
managed  to  find  some  excuse  to  ride  among 
the  cattle.  "  What 's  the  brand  on  my  white 
cow  ? "  inquired  Forrest,  the  object  leading 
up  to  another  peculiarity  in  color. 

"  I  could  n't  read  it,"  said  Dell,  airing  his 
range  parlance. 

"No?  Well,  did  you  ever  see  a  white  cow 
with  a  black  face  ? "  inquired  the  wounded 
man,  coming  direct  to  the  matter  at  issue. 

"Not  that  I  remember;  why?" 

"  Because  there  never  lived  such  a  colored 
cow.  Nature  has  one  color  that  she  never 
mars.  You  can  find  any  colored  cow  with  a 
white  face,  but  you  '11  never  find  a  milk-white 
cow  with  a  colored  face.  That  line  is  drawn, 
and  you  want  to  remember  it.  You  '11  never 
shoot  a  wild  swan  with  a  blue  wing,  or  see 
yellow  snowflakes  fall,  or  meet  a  pure  white 
cow  with  a  black  face.  Hereafter,  if  any  one 
attempts  to  send  you  on  a  wild-goose  chase, 
to  hunt  such  a  cow,  tell  them  that  no  such 
animal  ever  walked  this  earth." 

Joel  returned  before  noon.  No  sign  of  an 
approaching  herd  was  sighted  by  the  middle 
of  the  afternoon,  and  the  trio  resigned  them- 
selves to  random  conversation. 

"  Dell,"  said  Forrest,  "  it's  been  on  my  mind 
all  day  to  ask  you  why  you  picked  a  year- 


56  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ling  yesterday  when  you  had  a  chance  to  take 
a  cow.  Straw  laughed  at  you." 

"  Because  Joel  said  red  cattle  were  worth  a 
dollar  a  head  more  than  any  other  color." 

"Young  man,"  inquired  Forrest  of  Joel, 
"what's  your  authority  for  that  statement.?" 

"  Did  n't  you  pick  me  a  red  cow  yester- 
day, and  did  n't  you  admit  to  Mr.  Straw  that 
red  cattle  were  worth  the  most?"  said  Joel, 
in  defense  of  his  actions. 

"  And  you  rushed  away  and  palmed  my 
random  talking  off  on  Dell  as  original  advice? 
You  '11  do.  Claiming  a  little  more  than  you 
actually  know  will  never  hurt  you  any.  Now 
here 's  a  prize  for  the  best  brand  reader:  The 
boy  who  brings  me  a  correct  list  of  brands, 
as  furnished  by  Straw,  gets  my  white  cow 
and  calf  as  a  reward.  I  want  the  road  and 
ranch  brand  on  the  cripples,  and  the  only  or 
holding  brand  on  the  others.  Now,  fool  one 
another  if  you  can.  Ride  through  them  slowly, 
and  the  one  who  brings  me  a  perfect  list  is 
my  bully  boy." 

The  incentive  of  reward  stimulated  the 
brothers  to  action.  They  scampered  away  on 
ponies,  not  even  waiting  to  saddle,  and  sev- 
eral hours  were  spent  in  copying  brands. 
These  included  characters,  figures,  and  let- 
ters, and  to  read  them  with  skill  was  largely 


THE  BROTHERS  CLAIM  A  RANGE  57 

a  matter  of  practice.  Any  novice  ought  to 
copy  brands,  but  in  this  instance  the  amateur's 
list  would  be  compared  with  that  of  an  expe- 
rienced trail  foreman,  a  neutral  judge  from 
which  there  was  no  appeal. 

The  task  occupied  the  entire  evening.  For- 
rest not  only  had  them  read,  but  looked  over 
each  copy,  lending  impartial  assistance  in 
reading  characters  that  might  baffle  a  boy. 
There  were  some  half  dozen  of  the  latter  in 
Straw's  list,  a  turkey  track  being  the  most 
difficult  to  interpret,  but  when  all  characters 
were  fully  understood,  Joel  still  had  four  er- 
rors to  Dell's  three.  The  cripples  were  found 
to  be  correct  in  each  instance,  and  were  ex- 
empt from  further  disturbance.  Forrest  now 
insisted  that  to  classify,  by  enumerating  each 
grade,  would  assist  in  locating  the  errors, 
which  work  would  have  to  be  postponed  until 
morning. 

The  boys  were  thoroughly  in  earnest  in 
mastering  the  task.  Forrest  regaled  them  with 
examples  of  the  wonderful  expertness  of  the 
Texans  in  reading  brands  and  classifying  cat- 
tle. "  Down  home,"  said  he,  "  we  have  boys 
who  read  brands  as  easily  as  a  girl  reads  a 
novel.  I  know  men  who  can  count  one  hun- 
dred head  of  mixed  cattle,  as  they  leave  a  cor- 
ral, or  trail  along,  and  not  only  classify  them 


58  WELLS   BROTHERS 

but  also  give  you  every  brand  correctly.  Now, 
that's  the  kind  of  cowmen  I  aim  to  make  out  of 
3^ou  boys,  and  to-morrow  morning  you  must 
get  these  brands  accurate.    What  was  that?  " 

Both  boys  sprang  to  the  tent  opening  and 
listened.  It  sounded  like  a  shot,  and  within  a 
few  moments  was  seconded  by  a  distant  hail. 

"  Some  one  must  be  lost,"  suggested  Joel. 
"He's  down  the  creek." 

"Lost  your  grandmother!"  exclaimed  For- 
rest. "  We  're  all  lost  in  this  country.  Here, 
fire  this  six-shooter  in  the  air,  and  follow  it 
up  with  a  Comanche  yell.  Dell,  build  a  little 
fire  on  the  nearest  knoll.  It's  more  than 
likely  some  trail  man  hunting  this  camp." 

The  signal-fire  was  soon  burning.  The  only 
answer  vouchsafed  was  some  fifteen  minutes 
later,  when  the  clatter  of  an  approaching 
horse  was  distinctly  heard.  A  lantern  shone 
through  the  tent  walls,  and  the  prompt  hail 
of  the  horseman  proved  him  no  stranger.  "  Is 
Quince  Forrest  here  ? "  he  inquired,  as  his 
horse  shied  at  the  tent. 

"  He  is.  Come  in,  Dorg,"  said  Forrest,  re- 
cognizing by  his  voice  the  horseman  without 
to  be  Dorg  Seay,  one  of  Don  Lovell's  fore- 
men. "  Come  in  and  let  us  feast  our  eyes  on 
your  handsome  face." 

Seay  peeped  within   and   timidly  entered. 


THE  BROTHERS  CLAIM  A  RANGE  59 

"Well,"  said  he,  pulling  at  a  straggling  mus- 
tache, "  evidently  it  is  n't  as  bad  as  reported. 
Priest  wrote  back  to  old  man  Don  that  you 
had  attempted  suicide  —  unfortunate  in  love 
was  the  reason  given  —  and  I  have  orders  to 
inquire  into  your  health  or  scatter  flowers  on 
your  grave.  Able  to  sit  up  and  take  notice? 
—  no  complications,  I  hope  ?  " 

"When  did  you  leave  Dodge?"  inquired 
Forrest,  ignoring  Seay's  persiflage. 

"  About  a  week  ago.  A  telegram  was  wait- 
ing me  on  the  railroad,  and  I  rode  through 
this  afternoon.  If  this  ranch  boasts  anything 
to  eat,  now  would  be  an  awful  nice  time  to 
mention  it." 

Seay's  wants  were  looked  after. 

"  How  many  herds  between  here  and  the 
railroad  ?  "  inquired  Forrest,  resuming  the 
conversation. 

"  Only  one  ahead  of  mine.  In  fact,  I  'm  fore- 
man of  both  herds  —  live  with  the  lead  one 
and  occasionally  go  back  and  see  my  own. 
It  all  depends  on  who  feeds  best." 

"  And  when  will  your  herd  reach  the  Bea- 
ver?" continued  Forrest. 

"  I  left  orders  to  water  my  lead  herd  in  the 
Beaver  at  three  o'clock  to-morrow,  and  my 
own  dear  cattle  will  be  at  their  heels.  My 
outfit  acts  as  rear-guard  to  Blocker's  herd." 


6o  WELLS   BROTHERS 

These  men,  in  the  employ  of  the  same  dro- 
ver, had  not  seen  each  other  in  months,  and 
a  fire  of  questions  followed,  and  were  an- 
swered. The  chronicle  of  the  long  drive,  of 
accident  by  flood  and  field,  led  up  to  the  pros- 
pects for  a  northern  demand  for  cattle. 

"  The  market  has  barely  opened  in  Dodge," 
said  Seay,  in  reply  to  a  question.  "  Unless  the 
herds  are  sold  or  contracted,  very  few  will 
leave  Dodge  for  the  Platte  River  before  the 
first  of  July.  Old  man  Don  is  n't  driving  a 
hoof  that  is  n't  placed,  so  all  his  herds  will  pass 
Ogalalla  before  the  first  of  the  month.  The 
bulk  of  the  drive  going  north  of  the  Platte  will 
come  next  month.  With  the  exception  of  scat- 
tering herds,  the  first  of  August  will  end  the 
drive." 

The  men  talked  far  into  the  night.  When 
they  were  left  alone  in  the  tent,  Forrest  un- 
folded his  plans  for  starting  the  boys  in  life. 

"  We  found  them  actually  on  their  uppers," 
said  he;  "they  had  n't  tasted  meat  in  months, 
and  were  living  on  greens  and  garden  truck. 
It 's  a  good  range,  and  we  must  get  them  some 
cattle.  The  first  year  may  be  a  little  tough,  but 
by  drawing  on  all  of  Lovell's  wagons  for  the 
necessary  staples,  we  can  provision  them  until 
next  spring.  You  must  leave  some  flour  and 
salt  and  beans  and  the  like." 


THE  BROTHERS  CLAIM  A  RANGE  61 

"Beans!"  echoed  Seay.  "That  will  surely 
tickle  my  cook.  Did  you  ever  notice  that  the 
farther  north  it  goes,  a  Texas  trail  outfit  gets 
tastier?  Let  it  start  out  on  bacon  and  beans 
and  blackstrap,  and  after  the  herd  crosses  the 
Platte,  the  varmints  want  prairie  chicken  and 
fried  trout.  Tasty!  Why,  those  old  boys  de- 
velop an  elegant  taste  for  dainties.  Nothing 
but  good  old  beef  ever  makes  them  even  think 
of  home  again.  Yes,  my  cook  will  give  you 
his  last  bean,  and  make  a  presentation  speech 
gratis." 

Forrest's  wound  had  begun  to  mend,  the 
soreness  and  swelling  had  left  the  knee  joint, 
and  the  following  morning  Seay  spent  in 
making  crutches.  Crude  and  for  temporary 
use,  the  wounded  man  tried  them  out,  and  by 
assistance  reached  the  entrance,  where  he 
was  eased  into  an  old  family  rocking-chair  in 
the  shade  of  the  tent. 

"  This  has  been  the  dream  of  my  life,"  said 
he,  "to  sit  like  some  old  patriarch  in  my  tent 
door  and  count  my  cattle.  See  that  white  cow 
yonder?  "  pointing  with  a  crutch.  "Well,  she 
belongs  to  your  uncle  John  Quincy.  And  that 
reminds  me  that  she  and  her  calf  are  up  as  a 
reward  to  complete  the  roll  of  brands.  Boys, 
are  you  ready  ? " 

The  revised  lists  were   submitted  for  in- 


62  WELLS   BROTHERS 

spection.  Compared  with  the  one  rendered 
by  Straw,  there  was  still  a  difference  in  Dell's 
regarding  a  dun  cow,  while  JoePs  list  varied 
on  three  head.  Under  the  classification  the 
errors  were  easily  located,  and  summoning 
the  visiting  foreman,  Forrest  explained  the 
situation. 

"  I  'II  have  to  appoint  you  umpire  in  de- 
ciding this  matter.  Here's  the  roll  furnished 
by  Nat  Straw,  and  you  '11  compare  it  with 
Dell  and  JoePs.  Of  course,  old  Nat  did  n't 
care  a  whoopee  about  getting  the  list  per- 
fect, and  my  bo}^  may  be  right  on  that  dun 
cow.  Joel  differs  on  a  three-year-old,  a  heifer, 
and  a  yearling  steer.  Now,  get  them  straight, 
because  we  're  expecting  to  receive  more 
cattle  this  evening.  Pass  on  these  brands  be- 
fore you  leave  to  meet  your  herd  this  after- 
noon. And  remember,  there  's  a  cow  and  calf 
at  stake  for  whichever  one  of  these  boys  first 
gets  the  roll  correct." 

After  dinner  the  three  rode  away  for  a  final 
inspection.  The  cattle  were  lazy  and  logy 
from  water,  often  admitting  of  riding  within 
a  rod,  thus  rendering  the  brands  readable  at  a 
glance.  Dell  led  the  way  to  the  dun  cow,  but 
before  Seay  could  pass  an  opinion,  the  boy 
called  for  his  list  in  possession  of  the  man. 
"Let  me  take  my  roll  a  minute,"  said  he, 


THE  BROTHERS  CLAIM  A  RANGE  63 

"and  I  '11  make  the  correction.  It  is  n't  a  four 
bar  four,  it's  four  equals  four;  there's  two 
bars  instead  of  one.  The  cow  and  calf  is  mine. 
That  gives  me  three." 

The  lust  of  possession  was  in  Dell's  voice. 
The  reward  had  been  fairly  earned,  and  turn- 
ing to  the  other  cattle  in  dispute,  Joel's  errors 
were  easily  corrected.  All  three  were  in  one 
brand,  and  the  mere  failure  to  note  the  lines 
of  difference  between  the  figure  eight  and  the 
letter  S  had  resulted  in  repeating  the  mis- 
take. Seay  amused  himself  by  pointing  out  dif- 
ferent animals  and  calling  for  their  brands, 
and  an  envious  rivalry  resulted  between  the 
brothers,  in  their  ability  to  read  range  script. 

"A  good  eye  and  a  good  memory,"  said 
Seay,  as  they  rode  homeward,  "  are  gifts  to  a 
cowman.  A  brand  once  seen  is  hardly  ever 
forgotten.  Twenty  years  hence,  you  boys  will 
remember  all  these  brands.  One  man  can 
read  brands  at  twice  the  distance  of  another, 
and  I  have  seen  many  who  could  distinguish 
cattle  from  horses,  with  the  naked  eye,  at  a 
distance  of  three  miles.  When  a  man  learns 
to  know  all  there  is  about  cattle,  he  ought  to 
be  getting  gray  around  the  edges." 

Forrest  accepted  the  umpire's  report.  "I 
thought  some  novice  might  trip  his  toe  on 
that  equality   sign,"  said  he.    "  There  's   no- 


64  WELLS   BROTHERS 

thing  like  having  studied  your  arithmetic. 
Dell 's  been  to  school,  and  it  won  him  a  cow 
and  calf  when  he  saw  the  sign  used  as  a 
brand.  I  wonder  how  he  is  on  driving  mules." 

"  I  can  drive  them,"  came  the  prompt  reply. 

"Very  well.  Hook  up  the  old  team.  I'm 
sending  you  down  to  the  trail  crossing  to  levy 
on  two  commissary  wagons.  Take  everything 
they  give  you  and  throw  out  a  few  hints  for 
more.  This  afternoon  we  begin  laying  in  a 
year's  provisions.  It  may  be  a  cold  winter, 
followed  by  a  late  spring,  and  there 's  nothing 
like  having  enough.  Relieve  them  of  all  their 
dried  fruits,  and  make  a  strong  talk  for  the 
staples  of  life.  I  may  want  to  winter  here  my- 
self, and  a  cow  camp  should  make  provision 
for  more  or  less  company." 

Seay  lent  his  approval.  "  Hitch  up  and 
rattle  along  ahead  of  me,"  said  he.  "The 
wagons  may  reach  the  crossing  an  hour  or 
two  ahead  of  the  herds,  and  I  '11  be  there  to 
help  you  trim  them  down  to  light  traveling 
form." 

It  proved  an  active  afternoon.  The  wagon 
was  started  for  the  trail  crossing,  followed  by 
Seay  within  half  an  hour.  Joel  was  in  a  quan- 
dary, between  duty  and  desire,  as  he  was 
anxious  to  see  the  passing  herds,  yet  a  bond 
of  obligation  to  the  wounded  man  required 


THE  BROTHERS  CLAIM  A  RANGE  65 

his  obedience.  Forrest  had  noticed  the  horse 
under  saddle,  the  impatience  of  the  boy,  but 
tactfully  removed  all  uneasiness. 

"  I  have  been  trying  to  figure  out,"  said  he, 
"  how  I  could  spare  you  this  afternoon,  as  no 
doubt  you  would  like  to  see  the  herds,  but 
we  have  so  much  to  do  at  home.  Now  that  I 
can  hobble  out,  you  must  get  me  four  poles, 
and  we  will  strip  this  fly  off  the  tent  and 
make  a  sunshade  out  of  it — make  an  arbor 
in  front  of  our  quarters.  Have  the  props  ready, 
and  in  the  morning  Seay  will  show  you  how 
to  stretch  a  tarpaulin  for  a  sunshade.  And 
then  along  towards  evening,  you  must  drift 
our  little  bunch  of  cattle  at  least  a  mile  up 
the  creek.  I  'm  expecting  more  this  evening, 
and  until  we  learn  the  brands  on  this  second 
contingent,  they  must  be  kept  separate.  And 
then,  since  we  Ve  claimed  it,  we  want  to 
make  a  showing  of  occupying  the  range,  by 
scattering  the  cattle  over  it.  Within  a  month, 
our  cows  must  rest  in  the  shade  of  Hackberry 
Grove  and  be  watering  out  of  those  upper 
springs.  When  you  take  a  country,  the  next 
thing  is  to  hold  it." 

Something  to  do  was  a  relief  to  Joel.  Wil- 
low stays,  for  the  arbor,  were  cut,  the  bark 
peeled  off,  and  the  poles  laid  ready  at  hand. 
When  the  cattle  arose,  of  their  own  accord, 


66  WELLS   BROTHERS 

from  the  noonday  rest,  the  impatient  lad  was 
allowed  to  graze  them  around  the  bend  of  the 
creek.  There  was  hardly  enough  work  to  keep 
an  active  boy  employed,  and  a  social  hour 
ensued.  "  Things  are  coming  our  way,"  said 
Forrest.  "  This  man  Seay  will  just  about  rob 
Blocker's  outfit.  When  it  comes  to  making  a 
poor  mouth,  that  boy  Dorg  is  in  a  class  by 
himself.  Dell  will  just  about  have  a  wagon 
load.  You  boys  will  have  to  sleep  in  the  tent 
hereafter." 

It  proved  so.  The  team  returned  an  hour 
before  sunset,  loaded  to  the  carrying  capacity 
of  the  wagon.  Not  only  were  there  remnants 
in  the  staples  of  life,  but  kegs  of  molasses 
and  bags  of  flour  and  beans,  while  a  good 
saddle,  coils  of  rope,  and  a  pair  of  new  boots 
which,  after  a  wetting,  had  proven  too  small 
for  the  owner,  were  among  the  assets.  It 
was  a  motley  assortment  of  odds  and  ends, 
a  free  discard  of  two  trail  outfits,  all  of  which 
found  an  acceptable  lodgment  at  the  new 
ranch. 

"  They  're  coming  up  to  supper,"  announced 
Dell  to  Forrest.  "  Mr.  Blocker's  foreman 
knows  you,  and  sent  word  to  get  up  a  spread. 
He  says  that  when  he  goes  visiting,  he  ex- 
pects his  friends  to  not  only  put  on  the  little 
and  big  pot,  but  kill  a  chicken  and  churn. 


THE  BROTHERS  CLAIM  A  RANGE  67 

He 's  such  a  funny  fellow.  He  made  me  try 
on  those  boots,  and  when  he  saw  they  would 
fit,  he  ordered  their  owner,  one  of  Mr.  Seay's 
men,  to  give  them  to  me  or  he  would  fight 
him  at  sunrise." 

"  Had  them  robbing  each  other  for  us, 
eh  ?  "  said  Forrest,  smiling.  "  Well,  that 's 
the  kind  of  friend  to  have  when  settling  up  a 
new  country.  This  ranch  is  like  a  fairy  story. 
Here  I  sit  and  wave  my  crutch  for  a  wand, 
and  everything  we  need  seems  to  just  bob  up 
out  of  the  plain.  Cattle  coming  along  to  stock 
a  ranch,  old  chum  coming  to  supper,  in  fact, 
everything  coming  our  way.  Dell,  get  up  a 
banquet  —  who  cares  for  expense !  " 

It  was  barely  dusk  when  the  second  con- 
tingent of  cattle  passed  above  the  homestead 
and  were  turned  loose  for  the  night.  As  be- 
fore, the  cripples  had  been  dropped  midway, 
and  would  be  nursed  up  the  next  morning. 
With  the  assistance  of  crutches,  Forrest  man- 
aged to  reach  the  opening,  and  by  clinging  to 
the  tent-pole,  waved  a  welcome  to  the  ap- 
proaching trail  men. 

Blocker's  foreman,  disdaining  an  invitation 
to  dismount,  saluted  his  host.  "  There  's  some 
question  in  my  mind,"  said  he,  "  as  to  what 
kind  of  a  dead-fall  you  're  running  up  here, 
but  if  it 's  on  the  square,  there  goes  my  con- 


68  WELLS   BROTHERS 

tribution  to  your  hospital.  Of  course,  the  gift 
carries  the  compliments  of  my  employer,  Cap- 
tain John.  That  red-headed  boy  delivered  my 
messages,  I  reckon?  Well,  now,  make  out 
that  I  'm  somebody  that's  come  a  long  way, 
and  that  you  're  tickled  to  death  to  see  me, 
and  order  the  fatted  calf  killed.  Otherwise,  I 
won't  even  dismount." 


CHAPTER  V 

A    FALL   OF   CRUMBS 

A  N  active  day  followed.  The  two  trail 
/  %  foremen  left  early  to  overtake  their 
^  JL  herds,  and  the  trio  at  the  homestead 
was  fully  employed.  The  cripples  were  brought 
up,  brands  were  copied,  and  the  commissary 
stores  assorted  and  arranged.  Before  leaving, 
the  men  had  stretched  the  sunshade,  and  the 
wounded  magician  sat  in  state  before  his  own 
tent  door. 

The  second  contingent  numbered  forty  cat- 
tle. Like  the  first,  they  were  a  mixed  lot, 
with  the  exception  of  a  gentle  cow.  Occa- 
sionally a  trail  foreman  would  provide  his 
outfit  with  a  milk  cow  before  starting,  or  gen- 
tle one  en  route,  and  Seay  had  willingly  given 
his  cow  to  the  hospital  on  the  Beaver. 

A  fine  rain  fell  during  the  night.  It  began 
falling  during  the  twilight  of  evening,  gath- 
ering in  force  as  the  hours  passed,  and  only 
ceased  near  the  middle  of  the  following  fore- 
noon. The  creek  filled  to  its  banks,  the  field 
and  garden  freshened  in  a  day,  and  the  new 
ranch  threw  off  the  blight  of  summer  drouth. 


70  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"This  will  bring  the  herds,"  said  Forrest, 
as  the  sun  burst  forth  at  noon.  "  It 's  a  gen- 
eral rain,  and  every  one  in  Dodge,  now  that 
water  is  sure,  will  pull  out  for  the  Platte 
River.  It  will  cool  the  weather  and  freshen 
the  grass,  and  every  drover  with  herds  on  the 
trail  will  push  forward  for  Ogalalla.  We  '11 
have  to  patrol  the  crossing  on  the  Beaver,  as 
the  rain  will  lay  the  dust  for  a  week  and  rob 
us  of  our  signal." 

The  crippled  man's  words  proved  pro- 
phetic. One  of  the  boys  was  daily  detailed  to 
ride  to  the  first  divide  south,  from  which  a 
herd,  if  timing  its  march  to  reach  the  Beaver 
within  a  day,  could  be  sighted.  On  a  primal 
trace,  like  the  Texas  and  Montana  cattle  trail, 
every  benefit  to  the  herd  was  sought,  and  the 
freshened  range  and  running  water  were  a 
welcome  breeze  to  the  drover's  sail. 

The  first  week  after  the  rain  only  three 
herds  reached  the  Beaver.  Each  foreman  paid 
his  respects  to  Forrest  at  the  homestead,  but 
the  herds  were  heavy  beef  cattle,  purchased 
at  Dodge  for  delivery  on  army  contracts,  and 
were  outfitted  anew  on  a  change  of  own- 
ers. The  usual  flotsam  of  crippled  and  stray 
cattle,  of  galled  and  lame  saddle  stock,  and 
of  useless  commissary  supplies,  was  missing, 
and  only  the  well  wishes  of  the  wayfaring 


A   FALL   OF   CRUMBS  71 

were  left  to  hearten  man  and  boy  at  the  new 
ranch. 

The  second  week  brought  better  results. 
Four  of  Don  Lovell's  herds  passed  within  two 
days,  and  the  nucleus  of  cattle  increased  to 
one  hundred  and  forty  odd,  seven  crippled 
horses  were  left,  while  the  commissary  stores 
fairly  showered,  a  second  wagon  load  being 
necessary  to  bring  up  the  cache  from  the  trail 
crossing.  In  all,  during  the  week,  fifteen  herds 
passed,  only  three  of  which  refused  the  invi- 
tation to  call,  while  one  was  merely  drifting 
along  in  search  of  a  range  to  take  up  and 
locate  with  a  herd  of  cattle.  Its  owners,  new 
men  in  the  occupation,  were  scouting  wide, 
and  when  one  of  them  discovered  Hackberry 
Grove  above  the  homestead,  his  delight  was 
unbounded,  as  the  range  met  every  require- 
ment for  establishing  a  ranch. 

The  tyro's  exultation  was  brief.  On  satis- 
fying himself  on  the  source  of  the  water,  the 
splendid  shade  and  abundance  of  fuel,  he 
rode  down  the  creek  to  intercept  the  trail, 
and  on  rounding  a  bend  of  the  Beaver,  was 
surprised  to  sight  a  bunch  of  cattle.  Knowing 
the  value  of  the  range,  Forrest  had  urged  the 
boys  to  nurse  the  first  contingent  of  strays  up 
the  creek,  farther  and  farther,  until  they  were 
then  ranging  within  a  mile  of  the  grove.  The 


72  WELLS   BROTHERS 

newcomer  could  hardly  control  his  chagrin, 
and  as  he  rode  along,  scarcely  a  mile  was 
passed  but  more  cattle  were  encountered, 
and  finally  the  tent  and  homestead  loomed  in 
sight. 

"  Well,  I  'm  glad  to  have  such  near  neigh- 
bors," affably  said  the  stranger,  as  he  dis- 
mounted before  the  tent.  "  Holding  down  a 
homestead,  I  suppose?" 

Only  Joel  and  Forrest  were  at  home.  "  Not 
exactly,"  replied  the  latter;  "this  is  headquar- 
ters ranch  of  Wells  Brothers;  range  from  the 
trail  crossing  on  Beaver  to  the  headwaters  of 
the  same.   On  the  trail  with  cattle,  I  reckon  ?  " 

"Just  grazing  along  until  a  range  can  be 
secured,"  replied  the  man.  "  I  've  found  a 
splendid  one  only  a  few  miles  up  the  creek 
—  fine  grove  of  timber  and  living  springs.  If 
the  range  suits  my  partner,  we  '11  move  in 
within  a  few  days  and  take  possession." 

"  Notice  any  cattle  as  you  came  down  the 
creek?"  politely  inquired  Forrest. 

"Just  a  few  here  and  there.  They  look  like 
strays ;  must  have  escaped  from  some  trail  herd. 
If  we  decide  to  locate  above,  I  '11  have  them 
all  rounded  up  and  pushed  down  the  creek." 

Joel  scented  danger  as  a  cub  wolf  scents 
blood.  He  crossed  the  arbor  and  took  up  a 
position   behind   Forrest's   chair.    The  latter 


A  FALL  OF  CRUMBS  73 

was  a  picture  of  contentment,  smiling  at  the 
assurance  of  his  caller,  and  qualifying  his  re- 
marks with  rare  irony. 

"  Well,  since  you  expect  to  be  our  neigh- 
bor, better  unsaddle  and  stay  for  dinner," 
urged  Forrest.  "Let's  get  acquainted  —  at 
least,  come  to  some  friendly  understanding." 

"  No,  thank  you.  My  partner  is  waiting  my 
return  to  the  herd,  and  will  be  anxious  for 
my  report  on  the  range  above.  If  possible,  we 
don't  care  to  locate  any  farther  north." 

"You  ought  to  have  secured  your  range 
before  you  bought  your  cattle.  You  seem  to 
have  the  cart  before  the  horse,"  observed  the 
wounded  man. 

"  Oh,"  said  the  novice,  with  a  sweeping 
gesture,  "  there  's  plenty  of  unclaimed  range. 
There  's  ample  grass  and  water  on  this  creek 
to  graze  five  thousand  cattle." 

"Wells  Brothers  estimate  that  the  range, 
tributary  to  the  Beaver,  will  carry  ten  thou- 
sand head  the  year  round,"  replied  Forrest, 
languidly  indifferent. 

"  Who  are  Wells  Brothers  ?  "  inquired  the 
newcomer. 

Forrest  turned  to  the  stranger  as  if  inform- 
ing a  child.  "You  have  the  name  correct," 
said  he.  "  The  brothers  took  this  range  some 
time  ago,  and  those  cattle  that  you  met  up  the 


74  WELLS   BROTHERS 

creek  are  theirs.  Before  you  round  up  any 
cattle  and  drive  them  out,  you  had  better  look 
into  the  situation  thoroughly.  You  surely 
know  and  respect  range  customs." 

"Well,"  said  the  stranger  explosively,-^ 
"  they  must  n't  expect  to  hold  the  whole  coun- 
try with  a  handful  of  cattle." 

"  They  only  took  the  range  recently,  and 
are  acquiring  cattle  as  fast  as  possible,"  po- 
litely replied  Forrest. 

"  They  can't  hold  any  more  country  than 
they  can  occupy,"  authoritatively  asserted  the 
novice.  "  All  we  want  is  a  range  for  a  thou- 
sand cows,  and  I  've  decided  on  that  hack- 
berry  grove  as  headquarters." 

"  Your  hearing  seems  defective,"  remarked 
Forrest  in  flute-like  tones.  "  Let  me  repeat: 
This  is  headquarters  for  Wells  Brothers.  Their 
range  runs  from  the  trail  crossing,  six  miles 
below,  to  the  headwaters  of  Beaver,  includ- 
ing all  its  tributaries.  Since  you  can't  stay 
for  dinner,  you  '11  have  time  to  ride  down 
to  the  crossing  of  the  Texas  and  Montana 
trail  on  this  creek.  There  you'll  find  the 
posted  notice,  so  that  he  who  runs  may  read, 
that  Wells  Brothers  have  already  claimed 
this  range.  I'll  furnish  you  a  pencil  and 
scrap  of  paper,  and  you  can  make  a  copy  of 
the  formal  notice  and  show  it  to  your  partner. 


A   FALL   OF   CRUMBS  75 

Then,  if  you  feel  strong  enough  to  outrage  all 
range  customs,  move  in  and  throw  down  your 
glove.  I  Ve  met  an  accident  recently,  leaving 
me  a  cripple,  but  I  '11  agree  to  get  in  the  sad- 
dle and  pick  up  the  gauntlet." 

The  novice  led  his  horse  aside  as  if  to 
mount.  "  I  fail  to  see  the  object  in  claiming 
more  range  than  one  can  occupy.  It  raises  a 
legal  question,"  said  he,  mounting. 

"  Custom  is  the  law  of  the  range,"  replied 
Forrest.  "The  increase  of  a  herd  must  be 
provided  for,  and  a  year  or  two's  experience 
of  beginners  like  you  usually  throws  cattle 
on  the  market.  Abundance  of  range  is  a  good 
asset.  Joel,  get  the  gentleman  a  pencil  and 
sheet  of  paper." 

"  Not  at  all  necessary,"  remarked  the  ama- 
teur cowman,  reining  away.  "  I  suppose  the 
range  is  for  sale  ? "  he  called  out,  without 
halting. 

"Yes,  but  folks  who  prefer  to  intrude  are 
usually  poor  buyers,"  shouted  the  crippled 
Texan. 

Joel  was  alarmed  and  plied  Forrest  with  a 
score  of  questions.  The  boy  had  tasted  the 
thrill  of  ownership  of  cattle  and  possession  of 
a  range,  and  now  the  envy  of  others  had 
threatened  his  interests. 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,"   soothingly  said   the 


76  WELLS   BROTHERS 

wounded  man.  "  This  is  like  a  page  from  life, 
only  twice  as  natural.  It  proves  two  things: 
that  you  took  your  range  in  good  time,  and 
that  it  has  a  value.  This  very  afternoon  you 
must  push  at  least  one  hundred  cattle  up  to 
those  springs  above  Hackberry  Grove.  Let 
them  track  and  trample  around  the  water  and 
noon  in  the  shade  of  the  motte.  That's  pos- 
session, and  possession  is  nine  points,  and  the 
other  fellow  can  have  the  tenth.  If  any  one 
wants  to  dispute  your  rights  or  encroach  on 
them,  I  '11  mount  a  horse  and  go  to  the  trail 
for  help.  The  Texans  are  the  boys  to  insist 
on  range  customs  being  respected.  It 's  time 
I  was  riding  a  little,  anyhow." 

Dell  returned  from  scouting  the  trail,  and 
reported  two  herds  due  to  reach  the  Beaver 
that  evening.  "  I  spent  an  hour  with  one  of 
the  foremen  around  the  ford,"  said  he  to 
Forrest ;  "  and  he  says  if  you  want  to  see  him, 
you  had  better  come  down  to  the  crossing. 
He  knows  you,  and  makes  out  you  ain't  much 
hurt.  He  says  if  you  come  down,  he  '11  give 
you  a  quarter  of  beef  and  a  speckled  heifer. 
He's  one  of  Jess  Pressnell's  bosses." 

"  That 's  the  word  I  'm  waiting  for,"  laughed 
Forrest.  "  Corral  the  horses  and  fix  up  some 
kind  of  a  mounting  block.  It  '11  take  a  scaffold 
to  get  me  on  a  horse,  but  I  can  fall  off.  Make 


A   FALL   OF   CRUMBS  77 

haste,  because  hereafter  we  must  ahnost  live 
on  horseback." 

The  words  proved  true.  Forrest  and  Dell, 
the  latter  bareback,  returned  to  the  trail,  while 
Joel  rode  to  drift  their  cattle  up  the  Beaver, 
in  order  to  be  in  possession  of  Hackberry 
Grove  and  its  living  springs.  The  plains  of 
the  West  were  a  lawless  country,  and  if  its 
pioneers  would  not  respect  its  age-old  pas- 
toral customs,  then  the  consequences  must  be 
met  or  borne. 

Three  weeks  had  passed  since  the  accident 
to  Forrest,  the  herds  were  coming  with  a  ven- 
geance, and  the  scene  of  activity  changed 
from  the  homestead  to  the  trail  crossing.  For- 
rest did  not  return  for  a  week,  foraging  on 
the  wagons,  camping  with  the  herds,  and 
never  failing  to  levy,  to  the  extent  of  his  abil- 
ity to  plead,  on  cattle,  horses,  and  needful 
supplies.  As  many  as  five  and  six  herds  ar- 
rived in  a  single  day,  none  of  which  were 
allowed  to  pass  without  an  appeal:  if  stran- 
gers, in  behalf  of  a  hospital;  if  among  friends, 
the  simple  facts  were  sufficient.  Dell  was  kept 
on  the  move  with  bunches  of  cattle,  or  freight- 
ing the  caches  to  the  homestead,  while  Joel 
received  the  different  contingents  and  scouted 
the  threatened  range. 

Among  old  acquaintances  there  was  no  de- 


78  WELLS   BROTHERS 

nying  Forrest,  and  Dell  fell  heir  to  the  first 
extra  saddle  found  among  the  effects  of  a  trail 
outfit.  The  galled  horses  had  recovered  ser- 
viceable form,  affording  each  of  the  boys  a 
mount,  and  even  the  threatened  cloud  against 
the  range  lifted.  The  herd  of  a  thousand  cows 
crossed  the  Beaver,  and  Forrest  took  particu- 
lar pains  to  inform  its  owners  of  the  where- 
abouts of  unclaimed  range  the  year  before. 
Evidently  the  embryo  cowmen  had  taken 
heed  and  inquired  into  range  customs,  and 
were  accordingly  profuse  with  disclaimers  of 
any  wrong  intent. 

The  first  three  weeks  of  July  saw  the  bulk 
of  the  herds  north  of  the  Beaver.  Water  and 
range  had  been  taken  advantage  of  in  the 
trailing  of  cattle  to  the  Northwest,  fully  three 
hundred  thousand  head  having  crossed  from 
Dodge  to  Ogalalla.  The  exodus  afforded  the 
boys  an  insight  into  pastoral  life,  brought  them 
in  close  contact  with  the  men  of  the  open, 
drove  false  ideas  from  their  immature  minds, 
and  assisted  in  the  laying  of  those  early  foun- 
dations on  which  their  future  manhood  must 
rest. 

Dell  spent  every  chance  hour  with  the  trail 
men.  He  and  Forrest  slept  with  the  wagons, 
met  the  herds,  and  piloted  them  in  to  the  best 
water.  The  fact  that  only  experienced  men 


A   FALL   OF   CRUMBS  79 

were  employed  on  the  trail  made  the  red- 
headed boy  a  welcome  guest  with  every  herd, 
while  the  wide  acquaintance  of  his  crippled 
sponsor  assured  the  lad  every  courtesy  of 
camp  and  road.  Dell  soon  learned  that  the 
position  of  point  man  usually  fell  to  a  veteran 
of  the  range,  and  one  whose  acquaintance 
was  worthy  of  cultivation,  both  in  the  saddle 
and  around  the  camp-fire. 

"I'm  going  to  be  a  point  man,"  Dell  con- 
fided to  Forrest,  on  one  of  their  trips  up  to 
the  homestead.  "  He  don't  seem  to  have 
much  to  do,  and  nearly  always  rides  with 
one  leg  across  his  horse's  neck." 

"  That 's  the  idea,"  assented  Forrest.  "Aim 
high.  Of  course,  you  '11  have  to  begin  as  a 
drag  man,  then  a  few  trips  to  Montana  in  the 
swing,  and  after  that  you  have  a  right  to  ex- 
pect a  place  on  the  point.  The  trouble  is,  you 
are  liable  to  slip  back  a  notch  or  two  at  any 
time.  Here  I  've  been  a  foreman  in  other 
years,  and  this  trip  I  was  glad  to  make  a 
hand.  There  's  so  many  slips,  and  we  can't  be 
all  point  men  and  bosses.  Cooks  and  horse 
wranglers  are  also  useful  men." 

The  first  serious  cloud  to  hover  over  the 
new  ranch  appeared  early  during  the  last 
week  in  July.  Forrest's  wounds  had  nearly 
healed,  and  he  was  wondering  if  his  employer 


8o  WELLS   BROTHERS 

would  make  a  further  claim  on  his  services 
during  that  summer,  which  was  probable  at 
the  hands  of  a  drover  with  such  extensive  in- 
terests. He  and  Dell  were  still  patrolling  the 
ford  on  Beaver,  when  one  evening  a  convey- 
ance from  the  railroad  to  the  south  drove  up 
to  the  crossing.  It  brought  a  telegram  from 
Don  Lovell,  requesting  the  presence  of  For- 
rest in  Dodge  City,  and  the  messenger,  a  liv- 
eryman from  Buffalo,  further  assured  him 
that  transportation  was  awaiting  him  at  that 
station.  There  were  no  grounds  on  which  to 
refuse  the  summons,  indefinite  and  devoid  of 
detail  as  it  was,  and  preparations  were  imme- 
diately made  to  return  with  the  liveryman. 
What  few  cattle  had  been  secured  during  that 
trip  were  drifted  up  the  creek,  when  all  re- 
turned to  the  homestead  for  the  night. 

To  Dell  and  Joel  the  situation  looked  seri- 
ous. The  crippled  man,  helpless  as  he  was  at 
first,  had  proven  their  rock  of  refuge,  and  now 
that  he  was  leaving  them,  a  tenderness  of  un- 
noticed growth  was  revealed.  As  an  enforced 
guest,  he  had  come  to  them  at  a  moment 
when  their  poverty  had  protested  at  receiv- 
ing him,  his  unselfishness  in  their  behalf  had 
proven  his  friendship  and  gratitude  beyond 
question,  and  the  lesson  was  not  lost  on  the 
parentless  waifs. 


A   FALL   OF   CRUMBS  81 

On  the  other  hand,  Forrest  lightened  all 
depression  of  spirits.  "  Don't  worry,"  said  he 
to  the  boys.  "Just  as  sure  as  water  runs  and 
grass  grows,  I  '11  come  over  this  trail  again. 
So  far  in  life,  I  've  never  done  any  good  for 
myself,  and  I  'm  going  to  play  this  hand  out 
and  see  if  you  lads  land  on  your  feet.  Now, 
don't  get  the  idea  that  I  've  done  any  great 
feat  in  rustling  you  boys  a  few  cows.  It 's  one 
of  the  laws  of  life,  that  often  we  can  do  for 
others  what  we  can't  do  for  ourselves.  That 
sounds  like  preaching,  but  it  is  n't.  Actually, 
I  'm  ashamed  of  myself,  that  I  did  n't  get  you 
double  the  number  of  cattle.  What  we  did 
skirmish  together  was  merely  the  flotsam  of 
the  trail,  the  crumbs  that  fall  from  the  supper 
table,  and  all  obligations  to  me  are  overpaid. 
If  I  could  have  had  just  a  few  tears  on  tap, 
with  that  hospital  talk,  and  you  boys  being 
poor  and  orphans  —  shucks !  I  must  be  getting 
doty — that  plea  was  good  for  a  thousand 
strays  and  cripples!" 

The  brothers  took  courage.  So  far  their 
chief  asset  was  a  fine  range.  Nearly  three 
hundred  and  fifty  cattle,  imperfect  as  the  titles 
to  many  of  them  were,  had  been  secured  and 
were  occupying  the  valley.  A  round  dozen 
cow  ponies,  worthless  for  the  present,  but 
which  in  time  would  round  into  form,  were 


82  WELLS   BROTHERS 

added  to  the  new  ranch.  Every  passing  com- 
missary had  laughed  at  the  chance  to  discard 
its  plunder  and  useless  staples,  and  only  the 
departure  of  the  man  behind  the  venture, 
standing  in  the  shadow  as  it  were,  threw  a 
depression  over  the  outlook. 

Funds,  with  which  to  pay  his  reckoning, 
had  been  left  with  Forrest.  The  boys  had  for- 
gotten the  original  agreement,  and  it  was  only 
with  tact  and  diplomacy  that  a  snug  sum, 
against  his  protest  and  embarrassment,  was 
forced  on  Joel.  "It  don't  come  off  me,"  said 
the  departing  man,  "and  it  may  come  handy 
with  you.  There's  a  long  winter  ahead,  and 
the  fight  ain't  near  won  yet.  The  first  year  in 
starting  a  ranch  is  always  the  hardest.  But  if 
you  boys  can  only  hold  these  cattle  until  grass 
comes  again,  it 's  the  making  of  you.  You 
know  the  boy  is  father  to  the  man,  and  if  you 
are  true-blue  seed  corn  —  well,  I  '11  bet  on 
two  ears  to  the  stock." 

Forrest's  enthusiasm  tempered  the  parting. 
The  start  for  the  railroad  was  made  at  day- 
break, and  in  taking  leave,  each  boy  held  a 
hand,  shaking  it  heartily  from  time  to  time, 
as  if  to  ratify  the  general  advice.  "  I  '11  make 
Dodge  in  two  days,"  said  the  departing  guest, 
"and  then  I  '11  know  the  meaning  of  this  wire. 
It  means  something  —  that 's  sure.  In  the  mean 


A   FALL   OF   CRUMBS  83 

time,  sit  square  in  your  saddles,  ride  your 
range,  and  let  the  idea  run  riot  that  you  are 
cowmen.  Plan,  scheme,  and  devise  for  the  fu- 
ture. That  'sail  until  you  hear  from  me  or  see 
my  sign  in  the  sky.  Adios,  senors." 


CHAPTER  VI 

SUNSHINE    AND    SHADOW 

AN  entire  week  passed,  during  which 
the  boys  were  alone.  A  few  herds 
^  were  still  coming  over  the  trail,  but 
for  lack  of  an  advocate  to  plead,  all  hope  of 
securing  more  cattle  must  be  foregone.  For- 
rest had  only  taken  his  saddle,  abandoning  for 
the  present  all  fixtures  contributed  for  his 
comfort  on  arriving  at  the  homestead,  includ- 
ing the  horses  of  his  employers.  The  lads 
were  therefore  left  an  abundance  of  mounts, 
all  cattle  were  drifted  above  the  ranch,  and 
plans  for  the  future  considered. 

Winter  must  be  met  and  confronted.  "  We 
must  have  forage  for  our  saddle  horses,"  said 
Joel  to  his  brother,  the  evening  after  Forrest's 
departure.  ''The  rain  has  helped  our  corn 
until  it  will  make  fodder,  but  that  is  n't 
enough.  Pa  cut  hay  in  this  valley,  and  I  know 
where  I  can  mow  a  ton  any  morning.  Mr. 
Qiiince  said  we  'd  have  to  stable  a  saddle 
horse  apiece  this  winter,  and  those  mules 
will  have  to  be  fed.  The  grass  has  greened 
up  since  the  rain,  and  it  will  be  no  trick  at  all 


SUNSHINE   AND   SHADOW       85 

to  make  ten  to  fifteen  tons  of  hay.  Help  me 
grind  the  scythe,  and  we  '11  put  in  every  spare 
hour  haying.  While  you  ride  around  the  cat- 
tle every  morning,  I  can  mow." 

A  farm  training  proved  an  advantage  to  the 
boys.  Before  coming  West,  their  father  had 
owned  a  mowing  machine,  but  primitive  meth- 
ods prevailed  on  the  frontier,  and  he  had  been 
compelled  to  use  a  scythe  in  his  haying  opera- 
tions. Joel  swung  the  blade  like  a  veteran, 
scattering  his  swath  to  cure  in  the  sun,  and 
with  whetstone  on  steel,  beat  a  frequent  tat- 
too. The  raking  into  windrows  and  shocking 
at  evening  was  an  easy  task  for  the  brothers, 
no  day  passing  but  the  cured  store  was  added 
to,  until  sufficient  was  accumulated  to  build 
a  stack.  That  was  a  task  which  tried  their 
mettle,  but  once  met  and  overcome,  it  forti- 
fied their  courage  to  meet  other  ordeals. 

"  I  wish  Mr.  Quince  could  see  that  stack 
of  hay,"  admiringly  said  Dell,  on  the  comple- 
tion of  the  first  effort.  "  There  must  be  five 
tons  in  it.  And  it 's  as  round  as  an  apple.  I 
can't  remember  when  I  've  worked  so  hard 
and  been  so  hungry.  No  wonder  the  Texan 
despises  any  work  he  can't  do  on  horseback. 
But  just  the  same,  they  're  dear,  good  fellows. 
I  wish  Mr.  Qiiince  could  live  with  us  always. 
He 's  surely  a  good  forager." 


86  WELLS   BROTHERS 

The  demand  for  range  was  accented  anew. 
One  evening  two  strangers  rode  up  the  creek 
and  asked  for  a  night's  lodging.  They  were 
made  welcome,  and  proved  to  be  Texas  cow- 
men, father  and  son,  in  search  of  pasturage 
for  a  herd  of  through  cattle.  There  was  an 
open  frankness  about  the  wayfarers  that  dis- 
armed every  suspicion  of  wrong  intent,  and  the 
brothers  met  their  inquiries  with  equal  candor. 

"  And  you  lads  are  Wells  Brothers?"  com- 
mented the  father,  in  kindly  greeting.  "  We 
saw  your  notice,  claiming  this  range,  at  the 
trail  crossing,  and  followed  your  wagon  track 
up  the  creek.  Unless  the  market  improves, 
we  must  secure  range  for  three  thousand  two- 
year-old  steers.  Well,  we  '11  get  acquainted, 
anyhow." 

The  boys  naturally  lacked  commercial  ex- 
perience in  their  new  occupation.  The  ab- 
sence of  Forrest  was  sorely  felt,  and  only  the 
innate  kindness  of  the  guests  allayed  all  feel- 
ing of  insecurity.  As  the  evening  wore  on, 
the  old  sense  of  dependence  brought  the  lads 
in  closer  touch  with  the  strangers,  the  con- 
versation running  over  the  mutual  field  of 
range  and  cattle  matters. 

"  What  is  the  reason,"  inquired  Joel,  "  that 
so  many  cattle  are  leaving  your  State  for  the 
upper  country  ?  " 


SUNSHINE   AND   SHADOW        87 

"The  reasons  are  numerous  and  valid,"  re- 
plied the  older  cowman.  "  It 's  the  natural 
outgrowth  or  expansion  of  the  pastoral  inter- 
ests of  our  State.  Before  the  opening  of  the 
trail,  for  years  and  years,  Texas  clamored  for 
an  outlet  for  its  cattle.  Our  water  supply  was 
limited,  the  State  is  subject  to  severe  drouth, 
the  cattle  were  congesting  on  our  ranges,  with 
neither  market  inquiry  or  demand.  The  sub- 
jection of  the  Indian  was  followed  by  a  sud- 
den development  of  the  West,  the  Texas  and 
Montana  cattle  trail  opened,  and  the  pastoral 
resources  of  our  State  surprised  the  world. 
Last  year  we  sent  eight  hundred  thousand 
cattle  over  the  trail,  and  they  were  not  missed 
at  home.  That's  the  reason  I 'm  your  guest 
to-night;  range  has  suddenly  become  valu- 
able in  Texas." 

"There  is  also  an  economic  reason  for  the 
present  exodus  of  cattle,"  added  the  young 
man.  "Our  State  is  a  natural  breeding  ground, 
but  we  can't  mature  into  marketable  beef. 
Nearly  twenty  years'  experience  has  proven 
that  a  northern  climate  is  necessary  to  fatten 
and  bring  our  Texas  cattle  to  perfect  maturity. 
Two  winters  in  the  North  will  insure  a  gain 
of  from  three  to  four  hundred  pounds'  extra 
weight  more  per  head  than  if  allowed  to  reach 
maturity   on  their    native    heath.    This   gain 


88  WELLS   BROTHERS 

fully  doubles  the  value  of  every  hoof,  and  is 
a  further  motive  why  we  are  your  guests  to- 
night; we  are  looking  for  a  northern  range 
on  which  to  mature  our  steer  cattle." 

The  boys  were  grasping  the  fact  that  in 
their  range  they  had  an  asset  of  value.  Less 
than  two  months  before,  they  were  on  the 
point  of  abandoning  their  home  as  worthless, 
not  capable  of  sustaining  life,  the  stone  which 
the  builders  rejected,  and  now  it  promised  a 
firm  foundation  to  their  future  hopes.  The 
threatened  encroachment  of  a  few  weeks  pre- 
vious, and  the  causes  of  demand,  as  explained 
by  their  guests,  threw  a  new  light  on  range 
values  and  made  the  boys  doubly  cautious. 
Was  there  a  possible  tide  in  the  primitive 
range,  which  taken  at  its  flood  would  lead 
these  waifs  to  fortune  ? 

The  next  morning  the  guests  insisted  on 
looking  over  the  upper  valley  of  the  Beaver. 

"  In  the  first  place,''  said  the  elder  Texan, 
"let  it  be  understood  that  we  respect  your 
rights  to  this  range.  If  we  can  reach  some 
mutual  agreement,  by  purchase  or  rental, 
good  enough,  but  not  by  any  form  of  intru- 
sion. We  might  pool  our  interests  for  a  period 
of  years,  and  the  rental  would  give  you  lads 
a  good  schooling.  There  are  many  advantages 
that  might  accrue  by  pooling  our  cattle.  At 


SUNSHINE  AND   SHADOW       89 

least,  there  is  no  harm  in  looking  over  the 
range." 

"  They  can  ride  with  me  as  far  as  Hack- 
berry  Grove,"  said  Dell.  "  None  of  our  cattle 
range  over  a  mile  above  the  springs,  and  from 
there  I  can  nearly  point  out  the  limits  of  our 
ranch." 

'*  You  are  welcome  to  look  over  the  range," 
assentingly  said  Joel,  "  but  only  on  condition 
that  any  agreement  reached  must  be  made 
with  Mr.  Quince  Forrest,  now  at  Dodge." 

"  That  will  be  perfectly  agreeable,"  said  the 
older  cowman.  "  No  one  must  take  any  ad- 
vantage of  you  boys." 

The  trio  rode  away,  with  Dell  pointing  out 
around  the  homestead  the  different  beaver 
dams  in  the  meanderings  of  the  creek.  Joel 
resumed  his  mowing,  and  near  noon  sighted 
a  cavalcade  of  horses  coming  down  the  dim 
road  which  his  father  used  in  going  to  Cul- 
bertson.  A  wagon  followed,  and  from  its  gen- 
eral outlines  the  boy  recognized  it  to  be  a 
cow  outfit,  heading  for  their  improvements. 
Hastening  homeward,  he  found  Paul  Priest, 
the  gray-haired  foreman,  who  had  passed 
northward  nearly  two  months  before,  sitting 
under  the  sunshade  before  the  tent. 

"  Howdy,  bud,"  said  Priest  languidly  in  greet- 
ing. "  Now,  let  me  think  —  Howdy,  Joel !  " 


90 


WELLS    BROTHERS 


No  prince  could  have  been  more  welcome. 
The  men  behind  the  boys  had  been  sadly 
missed,  and  the  unexpected  appearance  of 
Priest  filled  every  want.  "  Sit  down,"  said  the 
latter.  "  First,  don't  bother  about  getting  any 
dinner;  my  outfit  will  make  camp  on  the 
creek,  and  we  '11  have  a  little  spread.  Yes,  I 
know ;  Forrest 's  in  Dodge  ;  old  man  Don 
told  me  he  needed  him.  Where 's  your 
brother?" 

"  Dell 's  gone  up  the  creek  with  some  cow- 
men from  Texas,"  admitted  Joel.  "They're 
looking  for  a  range.  I  told  them  any  agree- 
ment reached  must  be  made  with  Mr.  Quince. 
But  now  that  you  are  here,  you  will  do  just 
as  well.  They'll  be  in  soon." 

"  I  'm  liable  to  tell  them  to  ride  on,"  said 
the  gray-haired  foreman.  "  I  'm  jealous,  and  I 
want  it  distinctly  understood  that  I  'm  a  silent 
partner  in  this  ranch.  How  many  cattle  have 
you?" 

"  Nearly  three  hundred  and  fifty,  not  count- 
ing the  calves." 

"Forrest  only  rustled  you  three  hundred 
and  fifty  cattle  ?  The  lazy  wretch  —  he  ought 
to  be  hung  for  ingratitude !  " 

"  Oh,  no,"  protested  Joel ;  "  Mr.  Quince  has 
been  a  father  to  Dell  and  myself." 

"  Wait  until  I  come  back  from  Dodge,  and 


SUNSHINE  AND   SHADOW       91 

I  '11  show  you  what  a  rustler  I  am,"  said 
Priest,  arising  to  give  his  horse  to  the  wran- 
gler and  issue  directions  in  regard  to  camping. 

The  arrival  of  Dell  and  the  cowmen  pre- 
vented further  converse  between  Priest  and 
his  protege.  For  the  time  being  a  soldier's 
introduction  sufficed  between  the  Texans,  but 
Dell  came  in  for  a  rough  caress.  "  What  do 
you  think  of  the  range  ? "  inquired  the  trail 
foreman,  turning  to  the  men,  and  going  direct 
to  the  subject. 

"  It  meets  every  requirement  for  ranching," 
replied  the  elder  cowman,  "  and  I  'm  going  to 
make  these  boys  a  generous  offer." 

"  This  man  will  act  for  us,"  said  Joel  to  the 
two  cowmen,  with  a  jerk  of  his  thumb  toward 
Priest. 

"  Well,  that 's  good,"  said  the  older  man, 
advancing  to  Priest.  "  My  name  is  Allen,  and 
this  is  my  son  Hugh." 

"  And  my  name  is  Priest,  a  trail  foreman 
in  the  employ  of  Don  Lovell,"  said  the  gray- 
haired  man,  shaking  hands  with  the  Texans. 

"Mr.  Lovell  was  expected  in  Dodge  the 
day  we  left,"  remarked  the  younger  man  in 
greeting.  "  We  had  hopes  of  selling  him  our 
herd." 

"What  is  your  county?"  inquired  the  trail 
boss,  searching  his  pockets  for  a  telegram. 


92  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"  Comanche." 

"And  when  did  you  leave  Dodge?" 

"Just  ten  da3^s  ago." 

"Then  you  need  no  range  —  your  cattle  are 
sold,"  said  Priest,  handing  the  older  man  a 
telegram. 

The  two  scanned  the  message  carefully, 
and  the  trail  foreman  continued:  "This  year 
my  herd  was  driven  to  fill  a  sub-contract,  and 
we  delivered  it  last  week  at  old  Camp  Clark, 
on  the  North  Platte.  From  there  the  main 
contractor  will  trail  the  beef  herd  up  to  the 
Yellowstone.  Old  man  Don  was  present  at 
the  delivery,  and  when  I  got  back  to  Ogalalla 
with  the  oufit,  that  message  was  awaiting  me. 
I  'm  now  on  my  way  to  Dodge  to  receive  the 
cattle.  They  go  to  the  old  man's  beef  ranch 
on  the  Little  Missouri.  It  says  three  thousand 
Comanche  County  two-year-olds,  don't  it?" 

"  It 's  our  cattle,"  said  the  son  to  his  father. 
"We  have  the  only  straight  herd  of  Comanche 
County  two-year-olds  at  Dodge  City.  That 
commission  man  said  he  would  sell  them  be- 
fore we  got  back." 

The  elder  Texan  turned  to  the  boys  with  a 
smile.  "  I  reckon  we  '11  have  to  declare  all 
negotiations  off  regarding  this  range.  I  had 
several  good  offers  to  make  you,  and  I  'm 
really  sorry  at  this  turn  of  events.    I  had  fig- 


SUNSHINE  AND   SHADOW       93 

ured  out  a  leasing  plan,  whereby  the  rentals 
of  this  range  would  give  you  boys  a  fine 
schooling,  and  revert  to  you  on  the  eldest  at- 
taining his  majority.  We  could  have  pooled 
our  cattle,  and  your  interests  would  have  been 
carried  free." 

"  You  need  n't  worry  about  these  boys," 
remarked  Priest,  with  an  air  of  interest;  "they 
have  silent  partners.  As  to  schooling,  I  've 
known  some  mighty  good  men  who  never 
punched  the  eyes  out  of  the  owl  in  their  old 
McGufFy  spelling-book." 

A  distant  cry  of  dinner  was  wafted  up  the 
creek.  "  That 's  a  welcome  call,"  said  Priest, 
arising.  "  Come  on,  everybody.  My  cook  has 
orders  to  tear  his  shirt  in  getting  up  a  big 
dinner." 

A  short  walk  led  to  the  camp.  "  This  out- 
fit looks  good  to  me,"  said  the  elder  cowman 
to  Priest,  "and  you  can  count  on  my  com- 
pany to  the  railroad." 

"  You  're  just  the  man  I  'm  looking  for," 
replied  the  trail  boss.  "  We  're  making  forty 
miles  a  day,  and  you  can  have  charge  until  we 
reach  Dodge." 

"  But  I  only  volunteered  as  far  as  the  rail- 
road," protested  the  genial  Texan. 

"  Yes;  but  then  I  know  you  cowmen,"  con- 
tended   Priest.    "You    have  lived   around  a 


94  WELLS   BROTHERS 

wagon  so  long  and  love  cow  horses  so  dearly, 
that  you  simply  can't  quit  my  outfit  to  ride 
on  a  train.  Two  o'clock  is  the  hour  for  start- 
ing, and  I  '11  overtake  you  before  evening." 

The  outfit  had  been  reduced  to  six  men, 
the  remainder  having  been  excused  and  sent 
home  from  Ogalalla.  The  remuda  was  in  fine 
condition,  four  changes  of  mounts  a  day  was 
the  rule,  and  on  the  hour  named,  the  cavalcade 
moved  out,  leaving  its  foreman  behind.  "  An- 
gle across  the  plain  and  enter  the  trail  on  the 
divide,  between  here  and  the  Prairie  Dog," 
suggested  Priest  to  his  men.  "We  will  want  to 
touch  here  coming  back,  and  the  wagon  track 
will  point  the  way.  Mr.  Allen  will  act  as  se- 
gundo." 

Left  to  themselves,  the  trio  resolved  itself 
into  a  ways  and  means  committee.  "I  sol- 
diered four  years,"  said  Priest  to  the  boys, 
once  the  sunshade  was  reached,  "  and  there  's 
nothing  that  puts  spirit  and  courage  into  the 
firing  line  like  knowing  that  the  reserves  are 
strong.  It 's  going  to  be  no  easy  task  to  hold 
these  cattle  this  winter,  and  now  is  the  tirAe 
to  bring  up  the  ammunition  and  provision  the 
camp.  The  army  can't  march  unless  the  mules 
are  in  condition,  and  you  must  be  well  mounted 
to  handle  cattle.  Ample  provision  for  your 
saddle  stock  is  the  first  requirement." 


SUNSHINE   AND   SHADOW       95 

"  We  're  putting  up  a  ton  of  hay  a  day," 
said  Joel, "  and  we  '11  have  two  hundred  shocks 
of  fodder." 

"  That 's  all  right  for  rough  forage,  but  you 
must  have  corn  for  your  saddle  stock,"  urged 
the  man.  "Without  grain  for  the  mounts,  cav- 
alry is  useless.  I  think  the  railroad  supplies, 
to  settlers  along  its  line,  coal,  lumber,  wire, 
and  other  staples  at  cost.  I'll  make  inquiry 
to-morrow  and  let  you  know  when  we  return. 
One  hundred  bushels  of  corn  would  make  the 
forage  reserves  ample  for  the  winter." 

"  We  've  got  money  enough  to  buy  it,"  ad- 
mitted Joel.  "  I  did  n't  want  to  take  it,  but  Mr. 
Quince  said  it  would  come  in  handy." 

"  That  covers  the  question  of  forage,  then," 
said  Priest.  "  Now  comes  the  question  of  cor- 
rals and  branding." 

"Going  to  brand  the  calves?"  impulsively 
inquired  Dell,  jumping  at  conclusions. 

"  The  calves  need  not  be  branded  before 
next  spring,"  replied  the  practical  man,  "but 
the  herd  must  be  branded  this  fall.  If  a  bliz- 
zard struck  the  cattle  on  the  open,  they  would 
drift  twenty  miles  during  a  night.  These 
through  Texas  cattle  have  been  known  to  drift 
five  hundred  miles  during  the  first  winter. 
You  must  guard  against  a  winter  drift,  and  the 
only  way  is  to  hold  your  cattle  under  herd. 


96  WELLS   BROTHERS 

If  you  boys  let  these  cattle  out  of  your  hand, 
away  from  your  control,  they  '11  drift  south  to 
the  Indian  reservations  and  be  lost.  You  must 
hold  them  in  spite  of  storms,  and  you  will 
need  a  big,  roomy  inclosure  in  which  to  cor- 
ral the  herd  at  night." 

"  There  's  the  corn  field,"  suggested  Dell. 

"  It  has  no  shelter,"  objected  Priest.  "  Your 
corral  must  protect  against  the  north  and  west 
winds." 

"  The  big  bend 's  the  place,"  said  Joel.  "  The 
creek  makes  a  perfect  horseshoe,  with  bluff 
banks  almost  twenty  feet  high  on  the  north 
and  northwest.  One  hundred  yards  of  fencing 
would  inclose  five  acres.  Our  cows  used  to 
shelter  there.  It 's  only  a  mile  above  the 
house." 

"  What 's  the  soil,  and  how  about  water?  " 
inquired  the  gray-haired  foreman,  arising. 

''  It 's  a  sand-bar,  with  a  ripple  and  two  long 
pools  in  the  circle  of  the  creek,"  promptly 
replied  Joel. 

"  Bring  in  the  horses,"  said  Priest,  looking 
at  his  watch;  "  I  '11  have  time  to  look  it  over 
before  leaving." 

While  awaiting  the  horses,  the  practical 
cowman  outlined  to  Joel  certain  alterations 
to  the  corral  at  the  stable,  which  admitted  of 
the  addition  of  a  branding  chute.  "  You  must 


SUNSHINE   AND   SHADOW       97 

cut  and  haul  the  necessary  posts  and  timber 
before  my  return,  and  when  we  pass  north, 
my  outfit  will  build  you  a  chute  and  brand 
your  cattle  the  same  day.  Have  the  materials 
on  the  ground,  and  I  '11  bring  any  needful 
hardware  from  the  railroad." 

A  short  canter  brought  the  committee  to 
the  big  bend.  The  sand-bar  was  overgrown 
with  weeds  high  as  a  man's  shoulder  on  horse- 
back, but  the  leader,  followed  by  the  boys, 
forced  his  mount  through  the  tangle  until 
the  bend  was  circled.  "  It 's  an  ideal  winter 
shelter,"  said  Priest,  dismounting  to  step  the 
entrance,  as  a  preliminary  measurement.  "  A 
hundred  and  ten  yards,"  he  announced,  a 
few  minutes  later,  "coon-skin  measurement. 
You  '11  need  twenty  heavy  posts  and  one  hun- 
dred stays.  I  '11  bring  you  a  roll  of  wire.  That 
water's  everything;  a  thirsty  cow  chills  easily. 
Given  a  dry  bed  and  contented  stomach,  in 
this  corral  your  herd  can  laugh  at  any  storm. 
It 's  almost  ready  made,  and  there 's  nothing 
niggardly  about  its  proportions." 

"  When  will  we  put  the  cattle  under  herd  }  " 
inquired  Dell  as  the  trio  rode  homeward. 

"Oh,  about  the  second  snowstorm,"  re- 
plied Priest.  "After  squaw  winter's  over, 
there's  usually  a  month  to  six  weeks  of  Indian 
summer.  It  might  be  as  late  as  the  first  of  De- 


98  WELLS   BROTHERS 

cember,  but  it  's  a  good  idea  to  loose-herd 
awhile ;  ride  around  them  evening  and  morn- 
ing, corral  them  and  leave  the  gates  open, 
teach  them  to  seek  a  dry,  cosy  bed,  at  least  a 
month  before  putting  the  cattle  under  close- 
herd.  Teach  them  to  drink  in  the  corral,  and 
then  they  '11  want  to  come  home.  You  boys 
will  just  about  have  to  live  with  your  little 
herd  this  winter." 

"We  wintered  here  once,"  modestly  said 
Joel,  "  and  I  'm  sure  we  can  do  it  again.  The 
storms  are  the  only  thing  to  dread,  and  we 
can  weather  them." 

"  Of  course  you  can,"  assured  the  trail  boss. 
"It 's  a  ground-hog  case  ;  it 's  hold  these  cat- 
tle or  the  Indians  will  eat  them  for  you.  Lost 
during  one  storm,  and  your  herd  is  lost  for 
good." 

"  And  about  horses  :  will  one  apiece  be 
enough?"  queried  Joel.  "Mr.  Quince  thought 
two  stabled  ones  would  do  the  winter  herding." 

"  One  corn-fed  pony  will  do  the  work  of 
four  grass  horses,"  replied  the  cowman. 
"Herding  is  no  work  for  horses,  provided 
you  spare  them.  If  you  must,  miss  your  own 
dinner,  but  see  that  your  horse  gets  his.  Dis- 
mount and  strip  the  bridle  off  at  every  chance, 
and  if  you  guard  against  getting  caught  out  in 
storms,  one  horse  apiece  is  all  you  need." 


JOEL  WELLS  AND  HIS   SPANISH   COW-PONY 


...NSHINE   AND   SHADOW       99 

On  reaching  the  homestead,  Priest  shifted 
his  saddle  to  a  horse  in  waiting,  and  announced 
his  regrets  at  being  compelled  to  limit  his 
visit.  "  It  may  be  two  weeks  before  I  return," 
said  he,  leading  his  horse  from  the  corral  to 
the  tent,  "  but  we  '11  point  in  here  and  lend  a 
hand  in  shaping  you  up  for  winter.  Forrest 
is  liable  to  have  a  herd  of  his  own,  and  in  that 
case,  there  will  be  two  outfits  of  men.  More 
than  likely,  we  '11  come  through  together." 

Hurried  as  he  professed  to  be,  the  trail  fore- 
man pottered  around  as  if  time  was  worthless, 
but  finally  mounted.  "  Now  the  commissary 
is  provisioned,"  said  he,  in  summing  up  the 
situation,  "to  stand  a  winter's  siege,  the  forage 
is  ample,  the  corral  and  branding  chute  is  half 
done  —  well,  I  reckon  we're  the  boys  to  hold 
a  few  cattle.  Honest  Injun,  I  hope  it  will  storm 
enough  this  winter  to  try  you  out ;  just  to  see 
what  kind  of  thoroughbreds  you  really  are. 
And  if  any  one  else  offers  to  buy  an  interest 
in  this  range,"  he  called  back,  as  a  happy 
afterthought,  "just  tell  them  that  you  have  all 
the  partners  you  need." 


CHAPTER  VII 

ALL    IN   THE    DAY's    WORK 

THE  brief  visit  of  Priest  proved  a  tonic 
to  the  boys.  If  a  firing  line  of  vet- 
eran soldiers  can  be  heartened,  surely 
the  spirit  and  courage  of  orphan  waifs  needed 
fortifying  against  the  coming  winter.  The 
elements  have  laughed  at  the  hopes  and  am- 
bitions of  a  conqueror,  and  an  invincible  army 
has  trailed  its  banners  in  the  snow,  unable 
to  cope  with  the  rigors  of  the  frost  king.  The 
lads  bent  anew  to  their  tasks  with  a  cheerful- 
ness which  made  work  mere  play,  sweeten- 
ing their  frugal  fare,  and  bringing  restful  sleep. 
The  tie  which  began  in  a  mercenary  agree- 
ment had  seemingly  broken  its  bonds,  and  in 
lieu,  through  the  leaven  of  human  love,  a  new 
covenant  had  been  adopted. 

"If  it's  a  dry,  open  winter,"  said  Dell  at 
breakfast  next  morning,  "  holding  these  cattle 
will  be  nothing.  The  water  holds  them  now 
without  herding." 

"Yes,"  replied  Joel,  "but  we  must  plan  to 
meet  the  worst  possible  winter.  A  blizzard 
gives    little   warning,   and    the   only  way  to 


ALL   IN    THE   DAY'S   WORK     loi 

overcome  one  is  to  be  fully  prepared.  That's 
what  Mr.  Paul  means  by  bringing  up  the  am- 
munition. We  must  provide  so  as  to  be  able 
to  withstand  a  winter  siege." 

"Well,  what's  lacking?"  insisted  Dell. 

"  Fuel.  Take  an  axe  with  you  this  morning, 
and  after  riding  around  the  cattle,  cut  and 
collect  the  dead  and  fallen  timber  in  Hack- 
berry  Grove.  Keep  an  eye  open  for  posts  and 
stays  —  I  '11  cut  them  while  you  're  hauling 
wood.  Remember  we  must  have  the  materials 
on  the  ground  when  Mr.  Paul  returns,  to  build 
a  corral  and  branding  chute." 

Axe  and  scythe  were  swung  that  morning 
with  renewed  energy.  Within  a  week  the  re- 
quired amount  of  hay  was  in  stack,  while  the 
further  supply  of  forage,  promised  in  the 
stunted  corn,  was  daily  noted  in  its  advancing 
growth. 

Without  delay  the  scene  of  activity  shifted. 
The  grove  was  levied  on,  a  change  of  axe- 
men took  place,  while  the  team  even  felt  a 
new  impetus  by  making,  instead  of  one,  two 
round  trips  daily.  The  fuel  supply  grew,  not 
to  meet  a  winter's,  but  a  year's  requirements. 
Where  strength  was  essential,  only  the  best 
of  timber  was  chosen,  and  well  within  the 
time  limit  the  materials  for  corral  and  brand- 
ing chute  were  at  hand  on  the  ground.  One 


102  WELLS   BROTHERS 

task  met  and  mastered,  all  subsequent  ones 
seemed  easier. 

"  We  're  ahead  of  time,"  said  Joel  with  a 
quiet  air  of  triumph,  as  the  last  load  of  stays 
reached  the  corral  site.  "  If  we  only  knew 
the  plans,  we  might  dig  the  post-holes.  The 
corn's  still  growing,  and  it  won't  do  to  cut 
until  it  begins  to  ripen  —  until  the  sugar  rises 
in  the  stock.  We  can't  turn  another  wheel  until 
Mr.  Paul  returns." 

Idleness  was  galling  to  Joel  Wells.  "  We  '11 
ride  the  range  to-day,"  he  announced  the  fol- 
lowing morning.  "  From  here  to  the  ford 
does  n't  matter,  but  all  the  upper  tributaries 
ought  to  be  known.  We  must  learn  the  loca- 
tion of  every  natural  shelter.  If  a  storm  ever 
cuts  us  off  from  the  corrals,  we  must  point 
the  herd  for  some  other  port." 

"  The  main  Beaver  forks  only  a  few  miles 
above  Hackberry  Grove,"  suggested  Dell. 

"  Then  we  '11  ride  out  the  south  fork  to-day 
and  come  back  through  the  sand  hills.  There 
must  be  some  sheltered  nooks  in  that  range 
of  dunes." 

That  the  morning  hour  has  gold  in  its 
mouth,  an  unknown  maxim  at  the  new  ranch, 
mattered  nothing.  The  young  cowmen  were 
up  and  away  with  the  rising  sun,  riding 
among  and  counting  the  different  bunches  of 


ALL   IN    THE   DAYS   WORK     103 

cattle  encountered,  noting  the  cripples,  and 
letting  no  details  of  the  conditions  of  the  herd, 
in  their  leisurely  course  up  the  creek,  escape 
their  vigilance. 

The  cattle  tallied  out  to  an  animal,  and 
were  left  undisturbed  on  their  chosen  range. 
Two  hours'  ride  brought  the  boys  to  the  forks 
of  the  Beaver,  and  by  the  middle  of  the  fore- 
noon the  south  branch  of  the  creek  was  traced 
to  its  source  among  the  sand  dunes.  If  not 
inviting,  the  section  proved  interesting,  with 
its  scraggy  plum  brush,  its  unnumbered  hills, 
and  its  many  depressions,  scalloped  out  of  the 
sandy  soil  by  the  action  of  winds.  Coveys  of 
wild  quail  were  encountered,  prairie  chicken 
took  wing  on  every  hand,  and  near  the  noon 
hour  a  monster  gray  wolf  arose  from  a  sunny 
siesta  on  the  summit  of  a  near-by  dune,  and 
sniffed  the  air  in  search  of  the  cause  of  dis- 
turbance. Unseen,  the  boys  reined  in  their 
horses,  a  windward  breeze  favored  the  view 
for  a  moment,  when  ten  nearly  full-grown  cubs 
also  arose  and  joined  their  mother  in  scent- 
ing the  horsemen.  It  was  a  rare  glimpse  of 
wary  beasts,  and  like  a  flash  of  light,  once  the 
human  scent  was  detected,  mother  and  whelps 
skulked  and  were  lost  to  sight  in  an  instant. 

"  They  're  an  enemy  of  cattle,"  whispered 
Joel  when  the  cubs  appeared.  "  The  young 


104  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ones  are  not  old  enough  yet  to  hunt  alone, 
and  are  still  following  their  mother.  Their  lair 
is  in  these  hills,  and  if  this  proves  a  cold  win- 
ter, hunger  will  make  them  attack  our  cattle 
before  spring.  We  may  have  more  than  storms 
to  fight.  There  they  go." 

"  How  are  we  to  fight  them  ? "  timidly 
asked  Dell.  "  We  have  neither  dog  nor  gun." 

"Mr.  Paul  will  know,"  replied  Joel  with 
confidence.  "  They  '11  not  bother  us  while 
they  can  get  food  elsewhere." 

The  shelter  of  a  wolf-pack's  lair  was  not 
an  encouraging  winter  refuge  to  drifting  cat- 
tle. The  boys  even  shook  out  their  horses  for 
a  short  gallop  in  leaving  the  sand  dunes,  and 
breathed  easier  once  the  open  of  the  plain 
was  reached.  Following  a  low  watershed,  the 
brothers  made  a  wide  detour  from  the  Beaver, 
but  on  coming  opposite  the  homestead,  near 
the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  they  turned  and 
rode  directly  for  the  ranch,  where  a  welcome 
surprise  greeted  them. 

Four  men  were  at  work  on  the  branding 
chute.  A  single  glance  revealed  both  Priest 
and  Forrest  among  the  quartette.  On  riding 
up  to  the  stable  corral,  in  the  rough  reception 
which  followed,  the  lads  were  fairly  dragged 
from  their  saddles  amid  hearty  greetings. 
"Well,  here  we  are  again,  and   as   busy  as 


ALL   IN   THE   DAY'S   WORK    105 

cranberry  merchants,"  said  Priest,  once  order 
was  restored. 

"  Where  's  your  herd  ?  "  inquired  Joel. 

"He  hasn't  any/'  interrupted  Forrest; 
"  he  's  working  for  me.  About  this  time  to- 
morrow evening,  I  '11  split  this  ranch  wide 
open  with  two  herds,  each  of  thirty-five  hun- 
dred two-year-old  steers.  I  'm  coming  with 
some  style  this  time.  You  simply  can't  keep 
a  good  man  down." 

"  There  were  two  herds  instead  of  one  to 
go  to  the  old  man's  beef  ranch,"  explained 
Priest.  "  We  brought  along  a  couple  extra 
men  and  came  through  a  day  ahead.  We 
can't  halt  our  cattle,  but  we  can  have  the 
chute  and  corrals  nearly  ready  when  the  herds 
arrive.  All  we  '11  lack  is  the  hardware,  and 
the  wagons  will  reach  here  early  during  the 
afternoon." 

The  homestead  presented  a  busy  scene  for 
the  remainder  of  the  day.  Every  old  tool  on 
the  ranch  was  brought  into  service,  and  by 
twilight  the  outlines  of  the  branding  chute 
had  taken  form.  The  stable  corral  was  built 
out  of  heavy  poles  and  posts,  with  a  capacity 
of  holding  near  one  hundred  cattle,  and  by  a 
very  slight  alteration  it  could  be  enlarged, 
with  branding  conveniences  added. 

At  this  point  it  was  deemed  advisable  to 


io6  WELLS   BROTHERS 

enlighten  the  boys  regarding  the  title  of  stray 
cattle.  Forrest  and  Priest  had  talked  the  mat- 
ter over  between  themselves,  and  had  decided 
that  the  simple  truth  concerning  the  facts  was 
the  only  course  to  adopt  The  older  of  the 
two  men,  by  the  consent  of  years,  was  dele- 
gated to  instruct  the  lads,  and  when  the  ques- 
tion of  brands  to  be  adopted  by  the  new  ranch 
was  under  consideration,  the  chance  presented 
itself. 

"  In  starting  this  ranch,"  said  the  gray- 
haired  foreman  to  the  boys,  as  they  all  sat 
before  the  tent  in  the  twilight,  "  we  '11  have 
to  use  two  brands.  Cattle  are  conveyed  from 
one  owner  to  another  by  bill-of-sale.  In  a 
big  pastoral  exodus  like  the  present,  it  is  sim- 
ply impossible  to  keep  strays  out  of  moving 
herds.  They  come  in  at  night,  steal  in  while 
a  herd  is  passing  through  thickets,  while  it  is 
watering,  and  they  may  not  be  noticed  for  a 
month.  Under  all  range  customs,  strays  are 
recognized  as  flotsam.  Title  is  impossible, 
and  the  best  claim  is  due  to  the  range  that 
gives  them  sustenance.  It  has  always  been 
customary  to  brand  the  increase  of  strays  to 
the  range  on  which  they  are  found,  and  that 
will  entitle  you  to  all  calves  born  of  stray 
mothers." 

The  brothers  were  intent  listeners,  and  the 


ALL   IN   THE   DAY'S   WORK    107 

man  continued:  "  For  fear  of  winter  drifting, 
and  that  they  may  be  identified,  we  will  run 
all  these  strays  into  Two  Bars  on  the  left  hip, 
which  will  be  known  as  the  ^Hospital' brand. 
For  the  present,  that  will  give  us  an  asylum 
for  that  branch  of  flotsam  gathered,  and  as 
trustees  and  owners  of  the  range,  all  increase 
will  fall  to  Wells  Brothers.  However,  in  ac- 
cepting this  deputyship,  you  do  so  with  the 
understanding  that  the  brand  is  merely  a  tally- 
mark,  and  that  in  no  way  does  it  deprive  the 
owner  of  coming  forward  to  prove  and  take 
possession  of  his  property.  This  method  af- 
fords a  refuge  to  all  strays  in  your  possession, 
and  absolves  you  from  any  evil  intent.  All 
other  cattle  coming  under  your  control,  with 
the  knowledge  and  consent  of  the  owner  or 
his  agent,  are  yours  in  fee  simple,  and  we  will 
run  them  into  any  brand  you  wish  to  adopt." 

"  But  suppose  no  one  ever  calls  for  these 
stray  cows  ?  "  said  Joel,  meditating. 

"Then  let  them  live  out  their  days  in 
peace,"  advised  Forrest.  "  The  weeds  grow 
rankly  wherever  a  cow  dies,  and  that  was  the 
way  their  ancestors  went.  One  generation 
exempts  you." 

The  discovery  of  wolves  in  that  immediate 
vicinity  was  not  mentioned  until  the  following 
morning.  The  forces  were  divided  between 


io8  WELLS   BROTHERS 

the  tasks,  and  as  Priest  and  Joel  rode  up  the 
valley  to  the  site  of  the  new  corral,  the  dis- 
closure was  made  known. 

"Wolves?  Why,  certainly,"  said  Priest,  an- 
swering his  own  query.  "Wolves  act  as  a 
barometer  in  forecasting  the  coming  of  storms. 
Their  activity  or  presence  will  warn  3^ou  of 
the  approach  of  blizzards,  and  you  want  to 
take  the  hint  and  keep  your  weather  eye  open. 
When  other  food  becomes  scarce,  they  run 
in  packs  and  will  kill  cattle.  You  are  perfectly 
safe,  as  yours  will  be  either  under  herd  or  in 
a  corral.  Wolves  always  single  out  an  animal 
to  attack;  they  would  n't  dare  enter  an  inclo- 
sure.  Taken  advantage  of  in  their  hunger, 
they  can  be  easily  poisoned.  A  wolf  dearly 
loves  kidney  suet  or  fresh  tallow,  and  by  mix- 
ing strychnine  with  either,  they  can  be  lured 
to  their  own  destruction." 

The  post-holes  were  dug  extra  deep  for  the 
corral.  The  work  was  completed  before  noon, 
the  gate  being  the  only  feature  of  interest.  It 
was  made  double,  fifty  feet  wide,  and  fastened 
in  the  centre  to  a  strong  post.  The  gate  proper 
was  made  of  wire,  webbed  together  with  stays, 
admitting  of  a  pliability  which  served  a  double 
purpose.  By  sinking  an  extra  post  opposite 
each  of  the  main  ones,  the  flexibility  of  the  gate 
also  admitted  of  making  a  perfect  wing,  aid- 


ALL   IN   THE   DAY'S   WORK    109 

ing  in  the  entrance  or  exit  of  a  herd.  In  fas- 
tening the  gate  in  the  centre  short  ropes  were 
used,  and  the  wire  web  drawn  taut  to  the  ten- 
sion of  a  pHable  fence.  "  You  boys  will  find 
this  short  wing,  when  penning  a  herd,  equal 
to  an  extra  man,"  assured  the  old  foreman. 

The  first  round-up  on  the  new  ranch  took 
place  that  afternoon.  Forrest  took  the  extra 
men  and  boys,  and  riding  to  the  extreme  up- 
per limits  of  the  range,  threw  out  the  drag-net 
of  horsemen  and  turned  homeward.  The  cat- 
tle ranged  within  a  mile  or  two  on  either  side 
of  the  creek,  and  by  slowly  closing  in  and  drift- 
ing down  the  Beaver,  the  nucleus  of  the  ranch 
was  brought  into  a  compact  herd.  There  was 
no  hurry,  as  ample  time  must  be  allowed  for 
the  arrival  of  the  wagons  and  stretching  of  the 
wire,  in  finishing  and  making  ready  the  upper 
corral  for  its  first  reception  of  cattle.  There 
was  a  better  reason  for  delay,  which  was  held 
in  reserve,  as  a  surprise  for  the  boys. 

As  expected,  the  wagons  and  remudas  ar- 
rived at  the  new  ranch  hours  in  advance  of 
the  herds.  The  horse  wranglers  were  detailed 
by  Priest,  and  fitting  an  axle  to  the  spool  of 
wire,  by  the  aid  of  ropes  attached  to  the  pom- 
mels of  two  saddles,  it  was  rolled  up  to  the 
scene  of  its  use  at  an  easy  canter.  The  stretch- 
ing of  the  wire  was  less  than  an  hour's  work, 


no  WELLS   BROTHERS 

the  slack  being  taken  up  by  the  wranglers,  ever 
upholding  Texas  methods,  from  the  pommels 
of  saddles,  while  Priest  clinched  the  strands 
with  staples  at  the  proper  tension.  The  gates 
were  merely  a  pliable  extension  of  the  fence, 
the  flexible  character  requiring  no  hinges. 
"  Now,  when  the  stays  are  interwoven  through 
the  wire,  and  fastened  in  place  with  staples, 
there 's  a  corral  that  will  hold  a  thousand 
cattle,"  said  one  of  the  wranglers  admir- 
ingly- 

It  was  after  sunset  when  the  herd  was 
penned.  Forrest,  after  counting  the  round-up 
to  his  satisfaction,  detailed  Dell  and  Joel  to 
graze  the  herd  in  a  bend  of  the  Beaver,  out 
of  sight  and  fully  a  mile  above,  and  taking  the 
extra  men  returned  to  the  homestead.  The 
trail  herds  had  purposely  arrived  late,  expect- 
ing to  camp  on  the  Beaver  that  night,  and 
were  met  by  their  respective  foremen  while 
watering  for  the  day.  In  receiving,  at  Dodge, 
two  large  herds  of  one-aged  cattle,  both  fore- 
men, but  more  particularly  Forrest,  in  the  extra 
time  at  his  command,  had  levied  on  the  flot- 
sam of  the  herds  from  which  his  employer 
was  buying,  until  he  had  accumulated  over  one 
hundred  cattle.  Priest  had  secured,  among  a 
few  friends  and  the  few  herds  with  which  he 
came  in  contact,  scarcely  half  that  number, 


ALL   IN   THE  DAY'S   WORK    in 

and  still  the  two  contingents  made  a  very  ma- 
terial increase  to  the  new  ranch. 

The  addition  of  these  extra  cattle  was  the 
surprise  in  reserve.  Joel  and  Dell  had  never 
dreamed  of  a  further  increase  to  the  ranch 
stock,  and  Forrest  had  timed  the  corralling  of 
the  original  and  late  contingents  as  the  climax 
of  the  day's  work.  Detailing  both  of  the  boys 
on  the  point,  as  the  upper  herd  was  nearing 
the  corral,  it  was  suddenly  confronted  by  an- 
other contingent,  rounding  abend  of  the  creek 
from  the  opposite  quarter.  Priest  had  pur- 
posely detailed  strange  men,  coached  to  the 
point  of  blindness,  in  charge  of  the  new  addi- 
tion, and  when  the  two  bunches  threatened 
to  mix,  every  horseman  present  except  the 
boys  seemed  blind  to  the  situation. 

Dell  and  Joel  struggled  in  vain  —  the  cattle 
mixed.  "  Well,  well,"  said  Forrest,  galloping 
up,  "here's  a  nice  come-off!  Trust  my  own 
boys  to  point  a  little  herd  into  a  corral,  and 
they  let  two  bunches  of  cattle  mix!  Would  n't 
that  make  a  saint  swear!  " 

"Those  other  fellows  had  no  man  in  the  lead 
or  on  the  point,"  protested  Dell  dejectedly. 
"  They  were  looking  away  off  yonder,  and 
their  cattle  walked  into  ours.  Where  were 
you?" 

"  One  of  my  men  was  telling  me  about  an 


112  WELLS   BROTHERS 

old  sweetheart  of  his  down  on  the  Trinity 
River,  and  it  made  me  absent-minded.  I  for- 
got what  we  were  doing.  Well,  it's  too  late  in 
the  day  to  separate  them  now.  We  '11  pen 
them  until  morning." 

The  appearance  of  Priest  and  the  readiness 
with  which  the  strange  men  assisted  in  cor- 
ralling the  herd  shortly  revealed  the  situation 
to  the  crafty  Joel.  On  the  homeward  canter, 
the  gray-haired  foreman  managed  to  drop  a 
word  which  lightened  Dell's  depression  and 
cleared  up  the  supposed  error. 

That  was  a  great  night  on  the  Beaver.  The 
two  wagons  camped  together,  the  herds  bed- 
ded on  either  side  of  the  creek,  and  the  out- 
fits mingled  around  the  same  camp-fire.  Rare 
stories  were  told,  old  songs  were  sung,  the 
lusty  chorus  of  which  easily  reached  the  night- 
herders,  and  was  answered  back  like  a  distant 
refrain. 

The  next  morning  the  herds  moved  out  on 
their  way  without  a  wasted  step.  Two  men 
were  detailed  from  each  outfit,  and  with  the 
foremen  and  the  boys,  a  branding  crew  stood 
ready  for  the  task  before  them.  The  chute  had 
been  ironed  and  bolted  the  evening  previous, 
and  long  before  the  early  rays  of  the  sun 
flooded  the  valley  of  the  Beaver,  the  first  con- 
tingent of  cattle  arrived  from  the  upper  corral. 


ALL   IN   THE  DAY'S   WORK    113 

The  boys  adopted  Bar  Y  as  their  brand.  The 
chute  chambered  ten  grown  cattle,  and  when 
clutched  in  a  vise-like  embrace,  with  bars 
fore  and  aft,  the  actual  branding,  at  the  hands 
of  two  trail  foremen,  was  quickly  over.  The 
main  herd  was  cut  into  half  a  dozen  bunches, 
and  before  the  noon  hour  arrived,  the  last  hoof 
had  passed  under  the  running  irons  and  bore 
the  new  owner's  brand  or  tally-mark. 

Only  a  short  rest  was  allowed,  as  the  herds 
were  trailing  the  limit  of  travel,  and  must  be 
overtaken  by  evening.  When  crossing  the 
railroad  a  few  days  before,  it  was  learned  that 
Grinnell  was  the  railroad  depot  for  settlers' 
supplies,  and  the  boys  were  advised  to  file  their 
order  for  corn,  and  to  advance  a  liberal  pay- 
ment to  insure  attention.  All  details  of  the 
ranch  seemed  well  in  hand,  the  cattle  were 
in  good  condition  to  withstand  a  winter,  and 
if  spirit  and  confidence  could  be  imparted, 
from  age  to  youth,  the  sponsors  of  the  venture 
would  have  felt  little  concern  for  the  future. 
If  a  dry,  open  winter  followed,  success  was 
assured;  if  the  reverse,  was  it  right  to  try  out 
the  very  souls  of  these  waifs  in  a  wintry  cru- 
cible? 

The  foremen  and  their  men  left  early  in  the 
afternoon.  On  reaching  a  divide,  which  gave 
the  party  of  horsemen  a  last  glimpse  of  the 


114  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Beaver,  the  cavalcade  halted  for  a  parting 
look. 

"  Is  n't  it  a  pretty  range  ?  "  said  Forrest,  gaz- 
ing far  beyond  the  hazy  valley.  "  I  wish  we 
knew  if  those  boys  can  stick  out  the  winter." 

"Stick?  We'll  make  them  stick!"  said 
Priest,  in  a  tone  as  decisive  as  if  his  own  flesh 
and  blood  had  been  insulted. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

THE    LINES    OF   INTRENCHMENT 

THE  boys  watched  the  cavalcade  until 
it  faded  away  in  the  swells  of  the 
plain.  At  each  recurring  departure 
of  their  friends,  in  spite  of  all  bravado  to  the 
contrary,  a  pall  of  loneliness  crept  into  the 
hearts  of  the  waifs.  Theirs  had  been  a  cheer- 
less boyhood;  shifted  about  from  pillar  to 
post,  with  poverty  their  one  sure  companion, 
they  had  tasted  of  the  wormwood  in  advance 
of  their  years.  Toys  such  as  other  lads  played 
with  for  an  hour  and  cast  aside  were  un- 
known in  their  lives,  and  only  the  poor  sub- 
stitute for  hoop,  horse,  or  gun  had  been  theirs. 
In  the  struggle  for  existence,  human  affection 
was  almost  denied  them.  A  happy  home  they 
had  never  known,  and  the  one  memory  of 
their  childhood  worthy  of  remembrance  was 
the  love  of  a  mother,  which  arose  like  a  lily 
in  the  mire  of  their  lives,  shedding  its  fra- 
grance more  fully  as  its  loss  was  realized. 

Joel  was  the  more  sensitive  of  the  brothers. 
Forrest  had  fully  discussed  the  coming  win- 
ter with  the  older  lad,  and  as  an  incentive  to 


ii6  WELLS   BROTHERS 

watchfulness  had  openly  expressed  doubt  of 
the  ability  of  the  boys  to  battle  with  the  ele- 
ments. The  conversation  was  depressing,  and 
on  the  departure  of  the  men,  the  boys  resumed 
the  discussion  of  the  matter  at  issue. 

"Mr.  Quince  thinks  we  can't  hold  these 
cattle,"  said  Joel,  watching  the  receding  horse- 
men. "  He  's  afraid  a  storm  will  catch  us  sev- 
eral miles  out  and  cut  us  off  from  reaching 
the  corral.  Well,  it  will  be  my  fault  if  it 
does." 

Dell  made  a  boastful  remark,  but  the  older 
boy  only  intensified  his  gaze  at  the  fading 
cavalcade.  A  vision  of  his  youthful  sufferings 
flashed  through  his  mind,  and  a  mist,  closely 
akin  to  tears,  dimmed  his  eyes.  He  had 
learned  the  lesson  that  poverty  teaches,  una- 
ware that  the  storm  which  rocks  also  roots 
the  oak,  but  unable  to  make  the  comparison 
or  draw  the  inference  between  surrounding 
nature  and  himself.  For  an  instant  the  horse- 
men dipped  from  view,  changing  the  scene, 
and  a  picture  rose  up,  a  vision  of  the  future, 
of  independence,  of  a  day  when  he  would  take 
his  place  as  a  man  among  men.  The  past  was 
beyond  his  control,  its  bridges  burned,  but  the 
future  was  worth  battling  for;  and  as  if  en- 
couraged by  invisible  helpers,  the  boy  turned 
his  face  to  the  valley  of  the  Beaver. 


LINES   OF   INTRENCHMENT     117 

"We'll  hold  these  cattle  or  starve,"  said 
he,  unconsciously  answering  his  gray-haired 
sponsor,  fading  from  sight  over  the  last  divide. 
"  Hold  them.    I  can  hold  them  alone." 

"  There 's  no  danger  of  starving,"  com- 
mented Dell,  following  his  brother  into  the 
tent.    "  We  have  provisions  for  a  year." 

"Then  we  '11  hold  the  herd  or  freeze,"  an- 
swered Joel,  almost  hissing  the  words  — 
words  which  became  a  slogan  afterward. 

The  cattle  drifted  back  to  their  chosen 
range.  The  late  addition  mixed  and  mingled 
with  the  others,  now  attached  to  the  valley, 
with  its  abundance  of  grass  and  water.  No- 
thing was  said  about  the  first  four  horses, 
from  which  the  boys  understood  that  they 
were,  at  least  for  the  present,  left  in  their 
charge.  All  told,  sixteen  horses,  fully  half  of 
which  were  fit  for  saddle,  were  at  the  service 
of  the  ranch,  ample  in  number  in  proportion 
to  the  cattle  secured. 

It  was  only  the  middle  of  August.  An  acci- 
dent, and  a  little  over  two  months'  time,  had 
changed  the  character  of  the  Beaver  valley. 
With  no  work  pressing,  the  brothers  rode  the 
range,  circling  farther  to  the  west  and  south, 
until  any  country  liable  to  catch  a  winter 
drift  became  familiar  to  sight.  Northward  hoi 
the  slogan  of  every  drover  had  ceased,  and 


ii8  WELLS   BROTHERS 

the  active  trail  of  a  month  before  had  been 
deserted.  The  new  ranch  had  no  neighbors, 
the  nearest  habitation  was  on  the  railroad  to 
the  south,  and  the  utter  loneliness  of  the  plain 
was  only  overcome  by  active  work.  To  those 
who  love  them,  cattle  and  horses  are  good 
company,  and  in  their  daily  rides  the  lads  be- 
came so  familiar  with  the  herd  that  in  the 
absence  of  brands  they  could  have  readily 
identified  every  animal  by  flesh  marks  alone. 
Under  almost  constant  contact  with  the  boys, 
the  cattle  became  extremely  gentle,  while  the 
calves  even  grew  so  indifferent  that  they  re- 
luctantly arose  from  their  beds  to  avoid  a 
passing  horseman. 

The  cutting,  curing,  and  garnering  home 
the  field  of  corn  was  a  welcome  task.  It  aug- 
mented the  forage  supply,  assuring  sustenance 
to  the  saddle  horses,  an  important  feature  in 
withstanding  the  coming  winter  siege.  An 
ideal  fall  favored  the  ranch,  the  dry  weather 
curing  the  buffalo  grass  on  the  divides,  until 
it  was  the  equal  of  hay,  thus  assuring  the  cat- 
tle of  ample  grazing  until  spring.  The  usual 
squaw  winter  passed  in  a  swirl  of  snow,  a  sin- 
gle angry  day,  to  be  followed  by  a  month  of 
splendid  Indian  summer.  Its  coming  warned 
the  lads;  the  order  for  corn  was  placed;  once 
a  week  the  cattle  were  brought  in  and  cor- 


LINES   OF   INTRENCHMENT     119 

railed,  and  the  ranch  was  made  snug  against 
the  wintry  months. 

The  middle  of  November  was  as  early  as 
the  railroad  would  agree  to  deliver  the  corn. 
It  would  take  three  days  to  go  and  come,  and 
an  equal  number  of  round  trips  would  be  re- 
quired to  freight  the  grain  from  the  railroad 
to  the  ranch.  The  corn  had  been  shelled  and 
sacked  at  elevator  points,  eastward  in  the 
State,  and  in  encouraging  emigration  the  rail- 
road was  glad  to  supply  the  grain  at  cost  and 
freightage. 

The  hauling  fell  to  Joel.  He  had  placed 
the  order,  making  a  deposit,  and  identification 
was  necessary  with  the  agent.  On  the  very 
first  trip  to  Grinnell,  a  mere  station  on  the 
plain,  a  surprise  awaited  the  earnest  boy.  As 
if  he  were  a  citizen  of  the  hamlet,  and  in  his 
usual  quiet  way,  Paul  Priest  greeted  Joel  on 
his  arrival.  The  old  foreman  had  secretly  left 
a  horse  with  the  railroad  agent  at  Buffalo, 
where  the  trail  crossed,  had  kept  in  touch 
with  the  delivery  of  corn  at  stations  west- 
ward, and  had  timed  his  affairs  so  as  to  meet 
and  pay  a  final  visit  to  his  proteges. 

"  A  battle  is  sometimes  lost  by  a  very 
slight  oversight  or  accident,"  said  the  man  to 
the  boy.  "  The  ammunition  may  get  dam- 
aged, slippery  ground  might  prevent  the  plac- 


120  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ing  of  a  battery  at  an  opportune  moment,  or 
the  casting  of  a  horse's  shoe  might  delay  a 
courier  with  an  important  order.  I  feel  an  in- 
terest in  your  little  ranch,  and  when  I  know 
that  everything  is  done  that  can  be  done  to 
fortify  against  the  coming  winter,  I  '11  go  home 
feeling  better.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  kill- 
ing the  spirit  of  a  soldier,  and  if  I  were  to  let 
you  boys  try  and  fail,  it  would  affect  your 
courage  to  face  the  future.  That 's  the  reason 
I  've  dropped  off  to  take  a  last  look  at  your 
lines  of  intrenchment.  We  've  got  to  hold 
those  cattle." 

"  Mr.  Quince  thinks  we  won't,  but  let  the 
winter  come  as  it  may,  we  're  going  to  hold 
the  herd,"  simply  said  the  boy. 

There  was  a  resolution,  an  earnestness,  in 
the  words  of  the  lad  that  pleased  the  man. 
"  Your  Mr.  Quince  has  seen  some  cold  win- 
ters on  the  range,"  said  the  latter,  "and  that's 
the  reason  he  fears  the  worst.  But  come  as  it 
will,  if  we  do  all  in  our  power,  put  up  the  best 
fight  in  us,  and  fail,  then  we  are  blameless. 
But  with  my  experience,  if  I  let  you  fail, 
when  you  might  have  won,  then  I  have  done 
you  an  injury." 

That  was  the  platform  on  which  men  and 
boys  stood,  the  outline  on  which  their  mutual 
venture  must  stand  or  fall,  and  admitted  of  no 


LINES   OF   INTRENCHMENT     121 

shirking  on  the  part  of  any  one.  The  most 
minute  detail,  down  to  a  change  of  clean  sad- 
dle blankets,  for  winter  work,  must  be  fully 
understood.  The  death  of  a  horse  in  which 
reliance  rested,  at  an  unfortunate  moment, 
might  mean  the  loss  of  the  herd,  and  a  clean, 
warm  blanket  on  a  cold  day  was  the  merciful 
forethought  of  a  man  for  his  beast.  No  damp, 
frosty,  or  frozen  blanket  must  be  used  on  the 
Wells  ranch. 

On  the  return  trip,  an  early  start  was  made. 
A  night  camp  was  necessary,  at  the  halfway 
point,  the  dread  of  which  was  robbed  of  its 
terrors  by  the  presence  of  a  veteran  of  the 
open.  Before  leaving  the  depot.  Priest  un- 
earthed a  number  of  bundles,  "little  things 
that  might  come  in  handy,"  among  which  was 
a  sack  of  salt  and  two  empty  oak  barrels. 
The  latter  provoked  an  inquiry  from  Joel,  and 
an  explanation  was  forced  at  the  moment. 

"Did  you  notice  a  big  steer  that  came  in 
with  the  last  cattle,  and  which  was  overlooked 
in  branding?"  inquired  Priest,  meeting  the 
boy's  query  with  a  question. 

"A  mottled  beef,  branded  7L?" 
"That's  the  steer.  Why  do  you  reckon  we 
overlooked  branding  him  ?  " 

"  Dell  and  I  thought  it  was  an  oversight." 
"  When  you  see  what  I  'm  going  to  do  with 


122  WELLS   BROTHERS 

that  salt  and  these  barrels,  then  you  '11  see  that  it 
was  no  neglect.  That  steer  has  undergone  sev- 
eral Northern  winters,  has  reached  his  prime, 
and  the  governor's  cellar  won't  have  any  bet- 
ter corn  beef  this  winter  than  the  Wells  ranch. 
Seven  or  eight  hundred  pounds  of  pickled  beef 
is  an  important  item  in  the  winter  intrench- 
ments.  In  fact,  it 's  an  asset  to  any  cow  camp. 
There  are  so  many  little  things  that  may  come 
in  handy." 

The  second  morning  out  from  the  station, 
Priest  bore  off  on  a  course  that  would  land 
him  well  above  the  grove  on  the  Beaver.  He 
had  never  been  over  the  range,  and  not  wish- 
ing to  waste  a  day  with  a  loaded  wagon,  he 
angled  away  for  the  sand  hills  which  formed 
the  divide,  sloping  away  to  the  branches  of  the 
main  creek.  Noon  found  him  on  the  south  fork; 
cattle  were  encountered  near  the  juncture,  and 
as  he  approached  the  grove,  a  horseman  rode 
out  as  if  to  dispute  the  passage  of  an  intruder. 
The  old  foreman  noticed  the  boyish  figure  and 
delayed  the  meeting,  reining  in  to  critically 
examine  cattle  which  he  had  branded  some 
three  months  before.  With  diligent  intent,  the 
greeting  was  kept  pending,  the  wayfarer  rid- 
ing away  on  a  tangent  and  veering  back  on 
his  general  course,  until  Dell's  suspicion  was 
aroused.  The  return  of  Priest  was  so  unex- 


LINES   OF   INTRENCHMENT     123 

pected  that  the  boy's  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and 
the  two  rode  along  until  the  grove  was  reached, 
when  they  dismounted. 

"If  I  had  known  that  you  were  coming," 
said  Dell,  "  I  could  have  made  coffee  here.  It 
was  so  lonesome  at  the  ranch  that  I  was  spend- 
ing the  day  among  the  cattle." 

"A  cowman  expects  to  miss  his  dinner  oc- 
casionally," admitted  Priest;  "  that 's  why  they 
all  look  so  long  and  hungry.  Where  does  that 
7L  steer  range  ?  " 

"The  big  mottled  fellow?  —  Why,  down 
near  the  corral,"  replied  the  boy,  repeating 
and  answering  the  question. 

"I  want  to  look  him  over,"  simply  said  the 
old  foreman. 

The  two  remounted  and  continued  down 
the  valley.  The  noon  hour  had  brought  the 
herd  in  for  its  daily  water,  and  no  animal  was 
overlooked  on  the  homeward  ride.  The  sum- 
mer gloss  had  passed  and  the  hairy,  shaggy, 
winter  coats  of  the  cattle  almost  hid  the  brands, 
while  three  to  six  months'  rest  on  a  perfect 
range  was  reflected  in  the  splendid  condition 
of  the  general  herd. 

"  That 's  one  feature  of  the  winter  intrench- 
ments  that  needn't  worry  us,"  said  Priest; 
"  the  cattle  have  the  tallow  to  withstand  any 
ordinary  winter." 


124  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"  And  the  horses  are  all  rolling  fat,"  added 
Dell.  "  They  range  below  the  ranch  ;  and 
there  is  n't  a  cripple  or  sore  back  among  them. 
There  's  the  mottled  steer." 

They  were  nearing  the  last  contingent  of 
cattle.  Priest  gave  the  finished  animal  a  single 
glance,  and  smiled.  "Outsiders  say,"  said  he, 
"  that  it 's  a  maxim  among  us  Texans  never 
to  eat  your  own  beef.  The  adage  is  worth 
transplanting.  We'll  beef  him.  The  lines  of 
intrenchment  are  encouraging." 

The  latter  remarks  were  not  fully  under- 
stood by  Dell,  but  on  the  arrival  of  the  wagon 
that  evening,  and  a  short  confidence  between 
the  brothers,  the  horizon  cleared.  Aside  from 
the  salt  and  barrels,  there  were  sheepskin- 
lined  coats  and  mittens,  boots  of  heavy  felting, 
flannels  over  and  under,  as  if  the  boys  were 
being  outfitted  for  a  polar  expedition.  "  It  may 
all  come  in  handy,"  said  a  fatherly  voice,  "and 
a  soldier  out  on  sentinel  duty  ought  to  be  made 
comfortable.  In  holding  cattle  this  winter,  it's 
part  of  the  intrenchments." 

A  cyclone  cellar  served  as  a  storeroom  for 
the  sacked  corn.  Joel  was  away  by  early  sun-up, 
on  the  second  trip  to  the  station,  while  those 
left  behind  busied  themselves  in  strengthen- 
ing the  commissary.  The  barrels  were  made 
sweet  and  clean  with  scalding  water,  knives 


LINES  OF  INTRENCHMENT    125 

were  ground,  and  a  crude  platform  erected  for 
cooling  out  meat.  Dell,  on  the  tip-toe  of  ex- 
pectancy, danced  attendance,  wondering  how 
this  quiet  man  would  accomplish  his  ends,  and 
unable  to  wholly  restrain  his  curiosity. 

"Watch  me  closely,"  was  the  usual  reply. 
"You  will  probably  marry  young,  and  every 
head  of  a  family,  on  a  ranch,  ought  to  know 
how  to  cure  corn  beef.  Give  me  a  week  of 
frosty  nights,  and  the  lesson  is  yours.  Watch 
me  closely." 

The  climax  of  the  day  was  felling  the  beef. 
Near  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  the  two  rode 
out,  cut  off  a  small  contingent  of  cattle,  includ- 
ing the  animal  wanted,  and  quietly  drifted 
them  down  to  the  desired  location.  Dell's 
curiosity  had  given  way  to  alertness,  and 
when  the  old  foreman  shook  out  a  rope,  the 
boy  instinctively  knew  that  a  moment  of  ac- 
tion was  at  hand.  Without  in  the  least  alarm- 
ing the  other  cattle,  the  cast  was  made,  the 
loop  opened  in  mid-air,  settled  around  the 
horns,  cut  fast  by  a  jerk  of  the  rope,  and 
the  contest  between  man  and  animal  began. 
It  was  over  in  a  moment.  The  shade  of  a  wil- 
low was  the  chosen  spot,  and  as  the  cattle 
were  freed,  the  steer  turned,  the  horseman 
taking  one  side  of  the  tree  and  the  beef  the 
other,  wrapping  several  turns  of  the  rope  in 


126  WELLS   BROTHERS 

circling  on  contrary  courses.  The  instant  the 
big  fellow  quieted,  on  its  coming  to  a  level,  a 
pistol  flashed,  and  the  beef  fell  in  his  tracks. 
That  was  the  programme — to  make  the  kill  in 
the  shade  of  the  willow.  And  it  was  so  easily 
done. 

"That's  about  all  we  can  do  on  horseback," 
said  the  gray-haired  Texan,  dismounting. 
"You  may  bring  the  knives." 

Every  step  in  the  lesson  was  of  interest  to 
Dell.  Before  dark  the  beef  was  cut  into  suit- 
able pieces  and  spread  on  the  platform  to  drain 
and  cool.  During  the  frosty  night  following, 
all  trace  of  animal  heat  passed  away,  and  be- 
fore sunrise  the  meat  was  salted  into  barrels. 
Thereafter,  or  until  it  was  drained  of  every 
animal  impurity,  the  beef  was  spread  on  the 
platform  nightly,  the  brine  boiled  and  skimmed, 
until  a  perfect  pickle  was  secured.  It  was  a 
matter  of  a  week's  concern,  adding  to  the  com- 
missary two  barrels  of  prime  corned  beef,  an 
item  of  no  small  value  in  the  line  of  suste- 
nance. 

The  roping  of  the  beef  had  not  been  over- 
looked. "I  can't  see  what  made  the  loop  open 
for  you  yesterday,"  said  Dell  the  next  morn- 
ing; "  it  won't  open  for  me." 

Priest  took  the  rope  from  the  boy.  "  What 
the  tail  means  to  a  kite,  or  the  feather  to  an 


LINES   OF   INTRENCHMENT     127 

arrow,"  said  he,  running  out  an  oval  noose, 
"the  same  principle  applies  to  open  the  loop 
of  a  rope.  The  oval  must  have  a  heavy  side, 
which  you  get  by  letting  the  hondo  run  almost 
halfway  round  the  loop,  or  double  on  one 
side.  Then  when  you  make  your  cast,  the 
light  side  will  follow  the  heavy,  and  your  loop 
will  open.  In  other  words,  what  the  feather 
is  to  the  arrow,  the  light  side  is  to  the  heavy, 
and  if  you  throw  with  force,  the  loop  must 
open." 

It  seemed  so  easy.  Like  a  healthy  boy,  Dell 
had  an  ambition  to  be  a  fearless  rider  and 
crack  roper.  During  the  week  which  followed, 
in  the  saddle  or  at  leisure,  the  boy  never  tired 
of  practicing  with  a  rope,  while  the  patient 
man  called  attention  to  several  wrist  move- 
ments which  lent  assistance  in  forming  a  per- 
fect loop.  The  slightest  success  was  repeated 
to  perfection;  unceasing  devotion  to  a  task 
masters  it,  and  before  the  visit  ended,  the  per- 
fect oval  poised  in  the  air  and  the  rope  seem- 
ingly obeyed  the  hand  of  Dell  Wells. 

"  It 's  all  right  to  master  these  little  details 
of  the  cattle  business,"  said  Priest  to  Dell, 
"  but  don't  play  them  as  lead  cards.  Keep  them 
up  your  sleeve,  as  a  private  accomplishment, 
for  your  own  personal  use.  These  fancy  riders 
and   ropers  are  usually  Sunday   men.  When 


128  WELLS   BROTHERS 

I  make  up  an  outfit  for  the  trail,  I  never  insist 
on  any  special  attainments.  Just  so  he's  good 
natured,  and  no  danger  of  a  rainy  night  damp- 
ening the  twinkle  in  his  eye,  that's  the  boy 
for  me.  Then  if  he  can  think  a  little,  act  quick, 
clear,  and  to  the  point,  I  wouldn't  care  if  he 
could  n't  rope  a  cow  in  a  month." 

In  considering  the  lines  of  resistance,  the 
possibility  of  annoyance  from  wolves  was  not 
overlooked.  There  was  an  abundance  of  suet 
in  the  beef,  several  vials  of  strychnine  had  been 
provided,  and  a  full  gallon  of  poisoned  tallow 
was  prepared  in  event  of  its  needs.  While  Joel 
was  away  after  the  last  load  of  corn,  several 
dozen  wooden  holders  were  prepared,  two- 
inch  auger  holes  being  sunk  to  the  depth  of 
five  or  six  inches,  the  length  of  a  wolf's  tongue, 
and  the  troughs  charred  and  smoked  of  every 
trace  of  human  scent. 

That  the  boys  might  fully  understand  the 
many  details,  the  final  instructions  were  de- 
layed until  Joel's  return.  "Always  bear  in 
mind  that  a  wolf  is  a  wary  beast,"  admonished 
Priest,  "  and  match  your  cunning  against  his. 
Make  no  mistake,  take  no  chances,  for  you  're 
dealing  with  a  crafty  enemy.  About  the 
troughs  on  the  ground,  surrounding  the  bait, 
every  trace  of  human  scent  must  be  avoided. 
For  that  reason,  you  must  handle  the  holder 


LINES   OF   INTRENCHMENT     129 

with  a  spear  or  hay  fork,  and  if  you  have  oc- 
casion to  dismount,  to  refill  a  trough,  carry  a 
board  to  alight  on,  remembering  to  lower  and 
take  it  up  by  rope,  untouched  even  by  a  gloved 
hand.  The  scent  of  a  horse  arouses  no  suspi- 
cion; in  fact,  it  is  an  advantage,  as  it  allays 
distrust." 

In  loading  a  bait,  an  object  lesson  was  given, 
using  unpoisoned  suet.  "After  throwing  off 
all  suspicion,"  continued  Priest,  illustrating  the 
process,  "the  next  thing  is  to  avoid  an  over- 
dose. An  overdose  acts  as  an  emetic,  and  makes 
a  wise  wolf.  For  that  reason,  you  must  pack 
the  tallow  in  theauger  hole,  filling  from  a  half 
to  two  thirds  full.  Force  Mr.  Wolf  to  lick  it 
out,  administer  the  poison  slowly,  and  you  are 
sure  of  his  scalp.  You  will  notice  I  have  bored 
the  hole  in  solid  wood,  to  prevent  gnawing, 
and  you  must  pack  the  suet  firmly,  to  prevent 
spilling,  as  a  crafty  wolf  will  roll  a  trough  over 
and  over  to  dislodge  the  bait.  Keep  your  hold- 
ers out  in  the  open,  exposed  to  the  elements, 
scald  the  loading  tools  before  using,  and  you 
have  the  upper  hand  of  any  wolves  that  may 
molest  your  cattle." 

The  trail  foreman  spent  a  pleasant  two  weeks 
at  the  Wells  ranch.  After  the  corn  was  in 
store,  the  trio  rode  the  range  and  reviewed 
every  possible  line  of  defense.  Since  the  win- 


130  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ter  could  not  be  foreseen,  the  only  safe  course 
was  to  anticipate  the  worst,  and  barring  the 
burning  of  the  range  from  unseen  sources,  the 
new  ranch  stood  prepared  to  withstand  a  win- 
ter siege.  Everything  to  forefend  against  a 
day  of  stress  or  trial  had  been  done,  even  to 
instilling  courage  into  youthful  hearts. 

"  There  's  only  one  thing  further  that  comes 
to  mind,"  said  the  practical  man,  as  they  rode 
homeward,  "  and  that  is  to  face  an  unex- 
pected storm.  If  a  change  of  weather  threat- 
ens, point  your  herd  to  meet  it,  and  then  if 
you  are  caught  out,  you  will  have  the  storm 
in  your  back  to  drift  the  cattle  home.  Shep- 
herds practice  that  rule,  and  the  same  applies 
to  cattle  under  herd." 

All  horses  were  to  be  left  at  the  new  ranch 
for  the  winter.  Dell  volunteered  to  accom- 
pany their  guest  to  the  railroad  and  bring 
back  the  extra  mount,  thus  leaving  five  of 
Lovell's  horses  in  possession  of  the  boys.  On 
the  day  of  departure,  at  breakfast,  after  a  final 
summary  of  the  lines  of  resistance,  the  trio 
dallied  about  the  table,  the  trail  foreman  seem- 
ingly reluctant  to  leave. 

"  It 's  a  common  remark  among  us  drovers," 
said  Priest,  toying  with  his  coffee  cup,  "that 
a  cowman  is  supposed  to  do  his  sleeping  in 
the  winter.    But  the  next   few  months   you 


LINES   OF   INTRENCHMENT     131 

boys  must  reverse  that  rule.  Not  that  you 
need  to  denyyourselves  abundant  rest,  but  your 
vigilance  should  never  sleep.  Let  your  con- 
cern for  the  herd  be  the  first  and  last  thought 
of  the  day,  and  then  I  '11  get  my  beauty  sleep 
this  winter.  The  unforeseen  may  happen;  but 
I  want  you  to  remember  that  when  storms 
howl  the  loudest,  your  Mr.  Quince  and  I  will 
be  right  around  the  bend  of  the  creek,  with 
our  ear  to  the  ground,  the  reserves,  listening 
to  the  good  fight  you  boys  are  making.  Of 
course  you  could  call  the  reserves,  but  you 
want  the  glory  of  the  good  fighting  and  the 
lust  of  victory,  all  to  yourselves.  That 's  the 
way  I  've  got  you  sized  up  —  die  rather  than 
show  the  white  feather.  Come  on,  Dell;  we  're 
sleeping  in  the  summer." 


CHAPTER  IX 

A   WINTRY    CRUCIBLE 

THE  dreaded  winter  was  at  hand. 
Scarcely  a  day  passed  but  the  har- 
bingers of  air  and  sky  sounded  the 
warning  approach  of  the  forthcoming  siege. 
Great  flights  of  song  and  game  birds,  in  their 
migration  southward,  lent  an  accent  as  they 
twittered  by  or  honked  in  mid-air,  while  scur- 
rying clouds  and  squally  weather  bore  witness 
of  approaching  winter. 

The  tent  was  struck  and  stored  away.  The 
extra  saddle  stock  was  freed  for  the  winter, 
and  located  around  Hackberry  Grove.  The 
three  best  horses  were  given  a  ration  of  corn, 
and  on  DelPs  return  from  the  railroad,  the 
cattle  were  put  under  herd.  The  most  liberal 
freedom  must  be  allowed;  with  the  numbers 
on  hand,  the  term  close  herding  would  imply 
grazing  the  cattle  on  a  section  of  land,  while 
loose  herding  would  mean  four  or  five  times 
that  acreage.  New  routes  must  be  taken  daily; 
the  weather  would  govern  the  compactness 
and  course  of  the  herd,  while  a  radius  of  five 
miles  from  the  corral  was  a  liberal  range. 


A  WINTRY  CRUCIBLE  133 

The  brothers  were  somewhat  familiar  with 
winter  on  the  plains.  Cold  was  to  be  expected, 
but  if  accompanied  by  sunshine  and  a  dry 
atmosphere,  there  was  nothing  to  fear.  A 
warm,  fine  day  was  usually  the  forerunner 
of  a  storm,  the  approach  of  which  gave  little 
warning,  requiring  a  sleepless  vigilance  to 
avoid  being  taken  unaware  or  at  a  disadvan- 
tage. 

The  day's  work  began  at  sunrise.  Cattle 
are  loath  to  leave  a  dry  bed,  and  on  throwing 
open  the  corral  gates,  it  was  often  necessary 
to  enter  and  arouse  the  herd.  Thereafter, 
under  normal  conditions,  it  was  a  matter  of 
pointing,  keeping  up  the  drag  cattle,  allowing 
the  herd  to  spread  and  graze,  and  contracting 
and  relaxing  as  occasion  required.  In  han- 
dling, it  was  a  decided  advantage  that  the  little 
nucleus  had  known  herd  restraint,  in  trailing 
overland  from  Texas,  and  were  obedient,  at  a 
distance  of  fifty  yards,  to  the  slightest  whistle 
or  pressure  of  a  herdsman.  Under  favorable 
conditions,  the  cattle  could  be  depended  on 
to  graze  until  noon,  when  they  were  allowed 
an  hour's  rest,  and  the  circle  homeward  was 
timed  so  as  to  reach  the  corral  and  water  by 
sunset.  The  duties  of  each  day  were  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  previous  one,  the  moods  of  the  old 
and   younger  cattle,  sedate  and   frolicsome, 


134  WELLS   BROTHERS 

afcrding  the  only  variety  to  the  monotony  of 
the  tasko 

"  Holding  these  cattle  is  going  to  be  no 
trouble  at  all,"  said  Dell,  as  they  rode  home- 
ward, at  the  end  of  the  first  day's  herding. 
"My  horse  never  wet  a  hair  to-day." 

"Don't  shout  before  you're  out  of  the 
woods,"  replied  Joel.  "The  first  of  April  will 
be  soon  enough  to  count  our  chickens.  To- 
morrow is  only  the  beginning  of  December." 

"  Last  year  we  shucked  corn  up  until 
Christmas." 

"  Husking  corn  is  a  burnt  bridge  with  me. 
We  're  herding  cattle  this  winter.  Sit  straight 
in  your  saddle." 

A  week  of  fine  weather  followed.  The  boys 
were  kept  busy,  early  and  late,  with  the  de- 
tails of  house  and  stable.  A  new  route  each 
day  was  taken  with  the  herd,  and  after  pen- 
ning in  the  evening,  it  was  a  daily  occur- 
rence, before  bedtime,  to  walk  back  to  the 
corral  and  see  that  all  was  secure.  Warning 
of  approach  and  departure,  on  the  part  of  the 
boys,  either  by  whistling  or  singing,  was  al- 
ways given  the  cattle,  and  the  customary 
grunting  of  the  herd  answered  for  its  own 
contentment.  A  parting  look  was  given  the 
horses,  their  forage  replenished,  and  every 
comfort  looked  after  to  the  satisfaction  of  their 


A  WINTRY  CRUCIBLE  135 

masters.  By  nature,  horses  are  distant  and 
slow  of  any  expression  of  friendship;  but  an 
occasional  lump  of  sugar,  a  biscuit  at  noon- 
time, with  the  present  ration  of  grain,  readily 
brought  the  winter  mounts  to  a  reliance,  where 
they  nickered  at  the  approaching  footsteps  of 
their  riders. 

The  trust  of  the  boys,  in  their  winter  mounts, 
entitles  the  latter  to  a  prominent  place  in  the 
line  of  defense.  Rowdy,  Joel's  favorite,  was  a 
veteran  cow  horse,  dark  brown  in  color,  and, 
under  the  saddle,  restless,  with  a  knowledge 
of  his  work  that  bordered  on  the  human.  Dell 
favored  Dog-toe,  a  chestnut  in  color,  whose 
best  point  was  a  perfect  rein,  and  from  ex- 
perience in  roping  could  halt  from  any  gait 
on  the  space  of  a  blanket.  The  relay  horse 
was  named  Coyote,  a  cinnamon-colored  mount, 
Spanish  marked  in  a  black  stripe  down  his 
back,  whose  limbs  were  triple-ringed  above 
the  knees,  or  where  the  body  color  merged 
with  the  black  of  his  legs.  Their  names  had  fol- 
lowed them  from  the  trail,  one  of  which  was 
due  to  color  marks,  one  to  disposition,  while 
that  of  Dell's  chestnut  was  easily  traceable, 
from  black  marks  in  his  hoofs  quartering  into 
toes. 

The  first  storm  struck  near  the  middle  of 
December.  It  was  preceded  by  an  ideal  day; 


136  WELLS   BROTHERS 

like  the  promise  of  spring,  a  balmy  south 
wind  swept  the  range,  while  at  night  a  halo 
encircled  the  moon. 

"  It  will  storm  within  three  days,"  said  Dell, 
as  the  boys  strolled  up  to  the  corral  for  a  last 
look  at  the  sleeping  cattle.  "There  are  three 
stars  inside  the  circle  around  the  moon.  That 's 
one  of  Granny  Metcalf's  signs." 

"Well,  we'll  not  depend  on  signs,"  replied 
Joel.  "These  old  granny  omens  may  be  all 
right  to  hatch  chickens  by,  but  not  to  hold  cat- 
tle. All  advice  on  that  point  seems  to  rely  on 
corn-fed  saddle  horses  and  little  sleep." 

The  brothers  spent  the  customary  hour  at 
the  corral.  From  the  bluff  bank  which  en- 
circled the  inclosure,  the  lads  looked  down 
on  the  contented  herd,  their  possession  and 
their  promise;  and  the  tie  of  man  and  his  beast 
was  accented  anew  in  their  youthful  hearts. 

"Mr.  Paul  was  telling  me  on  one  of  our 
rides,"  said  Joel,  gazing  down  on  the  sleeping 
herd,  "  that  we  know  nothing  of  the  human 
race  in  an  age  so  remote  that  it  owned  no  cat- 
tle. He  says  that  when  the  pyramids  of  Egypt 
were  being  built,  ours  was  then  an  ancient 
occupation.  I  love  to  hear  Mr.  Paul  talk  about 
cattle.  Hark  !  " 

The  long  howl  of  a  wolf  to  the  south  was 
answered   by  a  band   to  the  westward,  and 


A  WINTRY  CRUCIBLE  137 

echoed  back  from  the  north  in  a  single  voice, 
each  apparently  many  miles  distant.  Animal 
instinct  is  usually  unerring,  and  the  boys  read- 
ily recalled  the  statement  of  the  old  trail  fore- 
man, that  the  howling  of  wolves  was  an  omen 
of  a  forthcoming  storm. 

"Let  it  come,"  said  Joel,  arising  and  start- 
ing homeward.  "  We  '11  meet  it.  Our  course 
to-morrow  will  be  northwest." 

It  came  with  little  warning.  Near  the  mid- 
dle of  the  following  afternoon,  a  noticeable  lull 
in  the  wind  occurred,  followed  by  a  leaden 
horizon  on  the  west  and  north.  The  next 
breeze  carried  the  icy  breath  of  the  northwest, 
and  the  cattle  turned  as  a  single  animal.  The 
alert  horsemen  acted  on  the  instant,  and  be- 
gan throwing  the  cattle  into  a  compact  herd. 
At  the  time  they  were  fully  three  miles  from 
the  corral,  and  when  less  than  halfway  home, 
the  storm  broke  in  splendid  fury.  A  swirl  of 
snow  accompanied  the  gale,  blinding  the  boys 
for  an  instant,  but  each  lad  held  a  point  of 
the  herd  and  the  raging  elements  could  be  de- 
pended on  to  bring  up  the  rear. 

It  was  no  easy  victory.  The  quarter  from 
which  the  storm  came  had  been  anticipated 
to  a  fraction.  The  cattle  drifted  before  its 
wrath,  dropped  into  the  valley  just  above  the 
corral,  where  the  boys  doubled  on  the  outside 


138  WELLS   BROTHERS 

point,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  wing-gate  turned 
the  wandering  herd  into  the  enclosure.  The 
rear,  lashed  by  the  storm,  instinctively  fol- 
lowed the  leaders,  and  the  gates  were  closed 
and  roped  securely. 

It  was  a  close  call.  The  lesson  came  vividly 
near  to  the  boys.  "  Hereafter,"  said  Joel,  "  all 
signs  of  a  storm  must  be  acted  upon.  We 
corraled  these  cattle  by  a  scratch.  Now  I 
know  what  a  winter  drift  means.  A  dozen 
men  could  n't  turn  this  herd  from  the  course 
of  to-day's  storm.  We  must  hold  nearer  the 
corral." 

The  boys  swung  into  their  saddles,  and, 
trusting  to  their  horses,  safely  reached  the 
stable.  A  howling  night  followed;  the  wind 
banked  the  snow  against  every  obstacle,  or 
filled  the  depressions,  even  sifting  through 
every  crack  and  crevice  in  the  dug-out.  The 
boys  and  their  mounts  were  snug  within  sod 
walls,  the  cattle  were  sheltered  in  a  cove  of 
the  creek,  and  the  storm  wailed  its  dirges 
unheeded. 

Dawn  broke  cold  and  clear.  Sun-dogs 
flanked  the  day's  harbinger  and  sunrise  found 
the  boys  at  the  corral  gate.  The  cattle  lazily 
responded  to  their  freedom,  the  course  led  to 
the  nearest  divide,  wind-swept  of  snow,  and 
which  after   an   hour's    sun   afforded  ample 


A  WINTRY  CRUCIBLE  139 

grazing  for  the  day.  The  first  storm  of  the 
winter  had  been  met,  and  its  one  clear  lesson 
lent  a  dread  to  any  possible  successors.  The 
herd  in  the  grip  of  a  storm,  cut  off  from  the 
corral,  had  a  new  meaning  to  the  embryo 
cowmen.  The  best  advice  is  mere  theory  until 
applied,  and  experience  in  the  practical  things 
of  life  is  not  transferable. 

The  first  storm  was  followed  by  ideal  win- 
ter weather  until  Christmas  day.  The  brothers 
had  planned  an  extra  supper  on  that  occasion, 
expecting  to  excuse  Dell  during  the  early 
afternoon  for  the  culinary  task,  and  only  re- 
quiring his  services  on  corraling  the  herd  at 
evening.  The  plan  was  feasible,  the  cattle 
were  herd-broke,  knew  their  bed  and  water, 
and  on  the  homeward  circle  all  that  was  re- 
quired was  to  direct  and  time  the  grazing 
herd.  The  occasion  had  been  looked  forward 
to,  partly  because  it  was  their  very  own,  their 
first  Christmas  spread,  and  partly  on  account 
of  some  delicacies  that  their  sponsor  had 
forced  on  Dell  on  parting  at  the  railroad,  in 
anticipation  of  the  day.  The  bounds  of  the 
supper  approached  a  banquet,  and  the  ques- 
tion of  appetites  to  grace  the  occasion  was 
settled. 

The  supper  was  delayed.  Not  from  any 
fault  in  the  planning,  but  the  weather  had  not 


140  WELLS   BROTHERS 

been  consulted.  The  herd  had  been  grazed 
out  on  a  northwest  course  for  the  day,  and 
an  hour  after  noon,  almost  the  time  at  which 
Dell  was  to  have  been  excused,  a  haze  ob- 
scured the  sun  and  dropped  like  a  curtain 
around  the  horizon.  Scurrying  clouds  ap- 
peared, and  before  the  herd  could  be  thrown 
together  and  started,  a  hazy,  leaden  sky  shot 
up,  almost  due  west,  heralding  the  quarter  of 
the  coming  storm.  The  herd  sensed  the  dan- 
ger and  responded  to  the  efforts  of  the  horse- 
men; but  before  a  mile  had  been  covered,  it 
was  enveloped  in  swirling  snow  and  veering 
its  march  with  the  course  of  the  storm.  The 
eddying  snow  blinded  the  boys  as  to  their 
direction;  they  supposed  they  were  pointing 
the  cattle  into  the  valley,  unaware  that  the 
herd  had  changed  its  course  on  the  onslaught 
of  the  elements.  Confidence  gave  way  to  un- 
certainty, and  when  sufficient  time  had  elapsed 
to  more  than  have  reached  the  corral,  con- 
jecture as  to  their  location  became  rife.  From 
the  moment  the  storm  struck,  both  boys  had 
bent  every  energy  to  point  the  herd  into  the 
valley,  but  when  neither  slope  nor  creek  was 
encountered,  the  fact  asserted  itself  that  they 
were  adrift  and  at  the  mercy  of  the  elements. 
"  We  Ve  missed  the  corral,"  shouted  Dell. 
"We 're  lost!" 


A  WINTRY  CRUCIBLE  141 

"Not  yet,"  answered  Joel,  amid  the  din 
of  the  howling  storm.  "  The  creek 's  to  our 
right.  Loosen  your  rope  and  we  '11  beat  these 
leaders  into  the  valley." 

The  plying  of  ropes,  the  shouting  of  boys, 
and  the  pressure  of  horses  merely  turned  the 
foremost  cattle,  when  a  new  contingent  forged 
to  the  front,  impelled  onward  by  the  fury  of 
the  storm.  Again  and  again  the  boys  plied 
the  fear  of  ropes  and  the  force  of  horses,  but 
each  effort  was  futile,  as  new  leaders  stepped 
into  the  track  of  the  displaced  ones,  and  the 
course  of  the  herd  was  sullenly  maintained. 

The  battle  was  on,  and  there  were  no  re- 
serves within  call.  In  a  crisis  like  the  present, 
moments  drag  like  hours,  and  the  firing  line 
needed  heartening.  A  knowledge  of  the  coun- 
try was  of  no  avail,  a  rod  or  two  was  the  limit 
of  vision,  and  the  brothers  dared  not  trust 
each  other  out  of  sight.  Time  moved  forward 
unmeasured,  yet  amid  all  Joel  Wells  remained 
in  possession  of  a  stanch  heart  and  an  unbe- 
wildered  mind.  "The  creek's  to  our  right," 
was  his  battle  cry.  "Come  on;  let's  turn 
these  lead  cattle  once  more." 

Whether  it  was  the  forty-ninth  or  hun- 
dredth effort  is  not  on  record,  but  at  some 
point  in  the  good  fight,  the  bo3^s  became 
aware  that  the  cattle  were  descending  a  slope 


142  WELLS   BROTHERS 

—  the  welcome,  southern  slope  of  the  Beaver 
valley!  Overhead  the  storm  howled  merci- 
lessly, but  the  shelter  of  the  hillside  admitted 
of  veering  the  herd  on  its  course,  until  the 
valley  was  reached.  No  knowledge  of  their 
location  was  possible,  and  all  the  brothers 
could  do  was  to  cross  to  the  opposite  point, 
and  direct  the  herd  against  the  leeward  bank 
of  the  creek.  Every  landmark  was  lost,  with 
the  herd  drifting  at  will. 

The  first  recognition  was  due  to  animal 
instinct.  Joel's  horse  neighed,  was  answered 
by  Dell's,  and  with  slack  rein,  the  two  turned 
a  few  rods  aside  and  halted  at  their  stable 
door.  Even  then  the  boys  could  scarcely 
identify  their  home  quarters,  so  enveloped 
was  the  dug-out  in  swirling  snow. 

"  Get  some  matches,"  said  Joel,  refusing  to 
dismount.  "There's  no  halting  these  cattle 
short  of  the  second  cut-bank,  below  on  the  left. 
Come  on  ;  we  must  try  and  hold  the  herd." 

The  sullen  cattle  passed  on.  The  halt  was 
only  for  a  moment,  when  the  boys  resumed 
their  positions  on  the  point  and  front.  Allow- 
ing the  cattle  to  move,  assured  a  compact 
herd,  as  on  every  attempt  to  halt  or  turn  it, 
the  rear  forged  to  the  front  and  furnished  new 
leaders,  and  in  unity  lay  a  hope  of  holding 
the  drifting  cattle. 


A  WINTRY  CRUCIBLE  143 

The  lay  of  the  Beaver  valley  below  head- 
quarters was  well  known.  The  banks  of  the 
creek  shifted  from  a  valley  on  one  side,  to 
low,  perpendicular  bluffs  on  the  other.  It  was 
in  one  of  these  meanderings  of  the  stream 
that  Joel  saw  a  possible  haven,  the  sheltering 
cut-bank  that  he  hoped  to  reach,  where  refuge 
might  be  secured  against  the  raging  elements. 
It  lay  several  miles  below  the  homestead,  and 
if  the  drifting  herd  reached  the  bend  before 
darkness,  there  was  a  fighting  chance  to  halt 
the  cattle  in  a  protected  nook.  The  cove  in 
mind  was  larger  than  the  one  in  which  the  cor- 
ral was  built,  and  if  a  successful  entrance  could 
only  be  effected  —  but  that  was  the  point. 

"This  storm  is  quartering  across  the  val- 
ley," said  Joel,  during  a  lull,  "  and  if  we  make 
the  entrance,  we  '11  have  to  turn  the  herd  on  a 
direct  angle  from  the  course  of  the  wind.  If 
the  storm  veers  to  the  north,  it  will  sweep  us 
out  of  the  valley,  with  nothing  to  shelter  the 
cattle  this  side  of  the  Prairie  Dog.  It 's  make 
that  entrance,  or  abandon  the  herd,  and  run 
the  chance  of  overtaking  it." 

"  We  '11  rush  them,"  said  Dell.  "  Remember 
how  those  men,  the  day  we  branded,  rushed 
the  cattle  into  the  branding  chute." 

"  They  could  do  things  that  we  would  n't 
dare  —  those  were  trail  men." 


144  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"The  cattle  are  just  as  much  afraid  of  a  boy 
as  of  a  man;  they  don't  know  any  difference. 
You  point  them  and  I  '11  rush  them.  Remem- 
ber that  story  Mr.  Quince  told  about  a  Mexi- 
can boy  throwing  himself  across  a  gateway, 
and  letting  a  thousand  range  horses  jump  over 
him?  You  could  do  that,  too,  if  you  had  the 
nerve.  Watch  me  rush  them." 

It  seemed  an  age  before  the  cut-bank  was 
reached.  The  meanderings  of  the  creek  were 
not  even  recognizable,  and  only  an  occasional 
willow  could  be  identified,  indicating  the  lo- 
cation of  the  present  drift.  Occasionally  the 
storm  thickened  or  lulled,  rendering  it  impos- 
sible to  measure  the  passing  time,  and  the 
dread  of  nightfall  was  intensified.  Under  such 
stress,  the  human  mind  becomes  intensely 
alert,  and  every  word  of  warning,  every  line 
of  advice,  urged  on  the  boys  by  their  sponsors, 
came  back  in  their  hour  of  trial  with  an  ap- 
plied meaning.  This  was  no  dress  parade,  with 
the  bands  playing  and  horses  dancing  to  the 
champing  of  their  own  bits;  no  huzzas  of  ad- 
miring throngs  greeted  this  silent,  marching 
column;  no  love-lit  eyes  watched  their  hero 
or  soft  hand  waved  lace  or  cambric  from  the 
border  of  this  parade  ground. 

A  lone  hackberry  tree  was  fortunately  re- 
membered as  growing  near  the  entrance  to 


A  WINTRY  CRUCIBLE  14J 

the  bend  which  formed  the  pocket.  When  re- 
ceiving the  cattle  from  the  trail,  it  was  the 
landmark  for  dropping  the  cripples.  The  tree 
grew  near  the  right  bank  of  the  creek,  the 
wagon  trail  passed  under  it,  making  it  a  favor- 
ite halting  place  when  freighting  in  supplies. 
Dell  remembered  its  shade,  and  taking  the 
lead,  groped  forward  in  search  of  the  silent 
sentinel  which  stood  guard  at  the  gateway 
of  the  cove.  It  was  their  one  hope,  and  by 
zigzagging  from  the  creek  to  any  semblance 
of  a  road,  the  entrance  to  the  nook  might  be 
identified. 

The  march  of  the  herd  was  slow  and  sullen. 
The  smaller  cattle  sheltered  in  the  lee  of  the 
larger,  moving  compactly,  as  if  the  density  of 
the  herd  radiated  a  heat  of  its  own.  The  sad- 
dle horses,  southern  bred  and  unacclimated, 
humped  their  backs  and  curled  their  heads  to 
the  knee,  indicating,  with  the  closing  day,  a 
falling  temperature.  Suddenly,  and  as  clear  as 
the  crack  of  a  rifle,  the  voice  of  Dell  Wells 
was  heard  in  the  lead :  — 

"Come  on,  Joel;  here's  our  hackberry! 
Here  's  where  the  fight  is  won  or  lost!  Here  's 
where  you  point  them  while  I  rush  them! 
Come  quick ! " 

The  brothers  shifted  positions.  It  was  the 
real  fight  of  the  day.  Responding  to  spur  and 


146  WELLS   BROTHERS 

quirt,  the  horses  sprang  like  hungry  wolves 
at  the  cattle,  and  the  gloomy  column  turned 
quartering  into  the  eye  of  the  storm.  But  as 
on  every  other  attempt  to  turn  or  mill  the 
drifting  herd,  new  leaders  forged  to  the  front 
and  threatened  to  carry  the  drift  past  the  en- 
trance to  the  pocket.  The  critical  moment  had 
arrived.  Dismounting,  with  a  coiled  rope  in 
hand,  Dell  rushed  on  the  volunteer  leaders, 
batting  them  over  the  heads,  until  they  whirled 
into  the  angling  column,  awakened  from  their 
stupor  and  panic-stricken  from  the  assault  of 
a  boy,  who  attacked  with  the  ferocity  of  a 
fiend,  hissing  like  an  adder  or  crying  in  the 
eerie  shrill  of  a  hyena  in  the  same  breath.  It 
worked  like  a  charm!  Its  secret  lay  in  the 
mastery  of  the  human  over  all  things  created. 
Elated  by  his  success,  Dell  stripped  his  coat, 
and  with  a  harmless  weapon  in  each  hand,  as- 
saulted every  contingent  of  new  leaders,  strik- 
ing right  and  left,  throwing  his  weight  against 
their  bodies,  and  by  the  magic  of  his  mimic 
furies  forcing  them  into  obedience. 

Meanwhile  Joel  had  succeeded  in  holding 
the  original  leaders  in  line,  and  within  a  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  turn,  the  shelter  of  the 
bend  was  reached.  The  domestic  bovine  lows 
for  the  comfort  of  his  stable,  and  no  sooner 
had  the  lead  cattle  entered  the  sheltering  nook, 


A  WINTRY  CRUCIBLE  147 

than  their  voices  arose  in  joyous  lowing,  which 
ran  back  through  the  column  for  the  first  time 
since  the  storm  struck.  Turning  to  the  sup- 
port of  Dell,  the  older  boy  lent  his  assistance, 
forcing  the  angle,  until  the  drag  end  of  the 
column  had  passed  into  the  sheltering  haven. 
The  fight  was  won,  and  to  Dell's  courage,  in 
the  decisive  moment,  all  credit  was  due.  The 
human  is  so  wondrously  constructed  and  so 
infinite  in  variety,  that  where  one  of  these 
brothers  was  timid  the  other  laughed  at  the 
storm,  and  where  physical  courage  was  re- 
quired to  assault  a  sullen  herd,  the  daring  of 
one  amazed  the  other.  Cattle  are  the  emblem 
of  innocence  and  strength,  and  yet  a  boy  — 
in  spite  of  all  that  has  been  written  to  the 
contrary  —  could  dismount  in  the  face  of  the 
wildest  stampede,  and  by  merely  waving  a 
handkerchief  split  in  twain  the  frenzied  on- 
rush of  three  thousand  beeves. 

Dell  recovered  his  horse,  and  the  brothers 
rode  back  and  forth  across  the  mouth  of  the 
pocket.  The  cattle  were  milling  in  an  endless 
merry-go-round,  contented  under  the  shel- 
tering bluffs,  lowing  for  mates  and  cronies, 
while  above  howled  the  elements  with  unre- 
lenting fury. 

"  We  '11  have  to  guard  this  entrance  until 
the  cattle  bed  down  for  the  night,"  remarked 


148  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Joel,  on  surveying  the  situation.  "  I  wonder 
if  we  could  start  a  fire." 

"I  '11  drop  back  to  the  hackberry  and  see  if 
I  can  rustle  some  wood,"  said  Dell,  wheeling 
his  horse  and  following  the  back  trail  of  the 
cattle.  He  returned  with  an  armful  of  dry 
twigs,  and  a  fire  was  soon  crackling  under  the 
cliff.  A  lodgment  of  old  driftwood  was  found 
below  the  bend,  and  as  darkness  fell  in  earn- 
est, a  cosy  fire  threw  its  shadows  over  the 
nook. 

A  patrol  was  established  and  the  night's 
vigil  begun.  The  sentinel  beat  was  paced  in 
watches  between  the  boys,  the  width  of  the 
gateway  being  about  two  hundred  yards. 
There  was  no  abatement  of  the  storm,  and  it 
was  hours  before  all  the  cattle  bedded  down. 
The  welfare  of  the  horses  was  the  main  con- 
cern, and  the  possibilit}^  of  reaching  home 
before  morning  was  freely  discussed.  The  in- 
stinct of  the  horses  could  be  relied  on  to  find 
the  way  to  their  stable,  but  return  would  be 
impossible  before  daybreak.  The  brothers 
were  so  elated  over  holding  the  cattle  that 
any  personal  hardship  was  endurable,  and 
after  a  seeming  age,  a  lull  in  the  elements 
was  noticeable  and  a  star  shone  forth.  Joel 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  out  of  the  cove, 
into  the   open   valley,  and   on  returning  an- 


A  WINTRY  CRUCIBLE  149 

nounced  that  the  storm  had  broken  and  that 
an  attempt  to  reach  home  was  safe. 

Quietly  as  Arabs,  the  boys  stole  away, 
leaving  the  cattle  to  sleep  out  the  night.  Once 
the  hackberry  was  reached,  the  horses  were 
given  free  rein,  when  restraint  became  ne- 
cessary to  avoid  galloping  home.  The  snow 
crunched  underfoot,  the  mounts  snorted  their 
protest  at  hindrance,  vagrant  breezes  and  bit- 
ing cold  cut  the  riders  to  the  marrow,  but  on 
approaching  the  homestead  the  reins  were 
shaken  out  and  the  horses  dashed  up  to  the 
stable  door. 

"  There  's  the  morning  star,"  observed  Joel, 
as  he  dismounted. 

"  If  we  're  going  to  be  cowmen,"  remarked 
Dell,  glancing  at  the  star  as  he  swung  out  of 
the  saddle,  "  hereafter  we  '11  eat  our  Christmas 
supper  in  October." 


CHAPTER   X 

GOOD    FIGHTING 

DAWN  found  the  boys  in  the  saddle. 
A  two  hours'  respite  had  freshened 
horses  and  riders.  The  morning  was 
crimpy  cold,  but  the  horses  warmed  to  the 
work,  and  covered  the  two  miles  to  the  bend 
before  the  sun  even  streaked  the  east.  Joel 
rode  a  wide  circle  around  the  entrance  to  the 
cove,  in  search  of  cattle  tracks  in  the  snow, 
and  on  finding  that  none  had  offered  to  leave 
their  shelter,  joined  his  brother  at  the  re- 
kindled fire  under  the  cliff.  The  cattle  were 
resting  contentedly,  the  fluffy  snow  under- 
neath having  melted  from  the  warmth  of 
their  bodies,  while  the  diversity  of  colors  in 
the  herd  were  blended  into  one  in  harmony 
with  the  surrounding  scene.  The  cattle  had 
bedded  down  rather  compactly,  and  their 
breathing  during  the  night  had  frosted  one 
another  like  window  glass  in  a  humid  atmo- 
sphere. It  was  a  freak  of  the  frost,  sheening 
the  furry  coats  with  a  silver  nap,  but  other- 
wise inflicting  no  harm. 

The  cattle  were  allowed  to  rise  of   their 


GOOD   FIGHTING  151 

own  accord.  In  the  interim  of  waiting  for  the 
sun  to  flood  the  cove,  the  boys  were  able  to 
get  an  outline  on  the  drift  of  the  day  pre- 
vious. Both  agreed  that  the  herd  was  fully 
five  miles  from  the  corral  when  the  storm 
struck,  and  as  it  dropped  into  the  valley  near 
the  improvements  (added  to  their  present 
location),  it  had  drifted  fully  eight  miles  in 
something  like  five  hours. 

"  Lucky  thing  for  us  that  it  was  a  local 
storm,"  said  Joel,  as  he  hovered  over  the  fire. 
"  Had  it  struck  out  of  the  north  we  would  be 
on  the  Prairie  Dog  this  morning  with  nothing 
but  snowballs  for  breakfast.  Relying  on  signs 
did  us  a  heap  of  good.  It  was  a  perfect  day, 
and  within  thirty  minutes  we  were  drifting 
blindly.  It 's  all  easy  to  figure  out  in  advance, 
but  storms  don't  come  by  programme.  The  only 
way  to  hold  cattle  on  these  plains  in  the  winter 
is  to  put  your  trust  in  corn-fed  saddle  horses, 
and  do  your  sleeping  in  the  summer." 

"  I  wonder  when  the  next  storm  will  strike," 
meditated  Dell. 

"  It  will  come  when  least  expected,  or 
threaten  for  days  and  days  and  never  come  at 
all,"  replied  Joel.  "  There  's  no  use  sitting  up 
at  night  to  figure  it  out.  Rouse  out  the  cattle, 
and  I  '11  point  them  up  the  divide." 

The    sunshine    had    crept   into   the   bend. 


152  WELLS   BROTHERS 

arousing  the  herd,  but  the  cattle  preferred  its 
warmth  to  a  frosty  breakfast,  and  stood  around 
in  bunches  until  their  joints  limbered  and  ur- 
gent appetites  sent  them  forth.  In  spite  of  the 
cold,  the  sun  lent  its  aid,  baring  the  divides 
and  wind-swept  places  of  snow;  and  before 
noon,  the  cattle  fell  to  feeding  so  ravenously 
that  the  herdsmen  relayed  each  other,  and  a 
dinner  for  boy  and  horse  was  enjoyed  at  head- 
quarters. In  the  valle}^  the  snow  lay  in  drifts, 
but  by  holding  the  cattle  on  divides  and 
southern  slopes,  they  were  grazed  to  content- 
ment and  entered  their  own  corral  at  the  cus- 
tomary hour  for  penning.  Old  axes  had  been 
left  at  hand,  and  the  first  cutting  of  ice,  to 
open  the  water  for  cattle,  occupied  the  boys 
for  fully  an  hour,  after  which  they  rode  home 
to  a  well-earned  rest. 

Three  days  of  zero  weather  followed.  Sun- 
dogs,  brilliant  as  rainbows  and  stately  as  sen- 
tinels, flanked  the  rising  sun  each  morning, 
after  which  the  cold  gradually  abated,  and  a 
week  after,  a  general  thaw  and  warm  winds 
swept  the  drifts  out  of  the  valley.  It  was  a 
welcome  relief;  the  cattle  recovered  rapidly, 
the  horses  proved  their  mettle,  while  the  boys 
came  out  more  than  victors.  They  were  in- 
uring rapidly  to  their  new  occupation;  every 
experience  was  an  asset  in  meeting  the  next 


GOOD   FIGHTING  153 

one,  while  their  general  fibre  was  absorbing 
strength  from  the  wintry  trial  on  the  immu- 
table plain. 

Only  once  during  the  late  storm  were 
wolves  sighted.  Near  the  evening  of  the  sec- 
ond day,  a  band  of  three  made  its  appearance, 
keeping  in  the  distance,  and  following  up  the 
herd  until  it  was  corraled  at  the  regular  hour. 
While  opening  the  ice,  the  boys  had  turned 
their  horses  loose  among  the  cattle,  and  on 
leading  them  out  of  the  corral,  the  trio  of 
prowlers  had  crept  up  within  a  hundred  yards. 
With  a  yell,  the  boys  mounted  and  made  a 
single  dash  at  them,  when  the  wolves  turned, 
and  in  their  hurried  departure  fairly  threw  up 
a  cloud  of  snow. 

"That's  what  Mr.  Quince  means  by  that 
expression  of  his,  '  running  like  a  scared 
wolf,' "  said  Joel,  as  he  reined  in  old  Rowdy. 

"When  will  we  put  out  the  poison?" 
breathlessly  inquired  Dell,  throwing  his 
mount  back  on  his  haunches  in  halting. 

"Just  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  hang  around. 
Remind  me,  and  we  '11  look  for  tracks  around 
the  corral  in  the  morning.  My,  but  they  were 
beauties!  How  I  would  like  to  have  one  of 
their  hides  for  a  foot-rug!  " 

"The  first  heavy  snow  that  comes  will 
bring  them  out  of  the  sand  hills,"  said  Dell, 


154  WELLS   BROTHERS 

as  they  rode  home.  "  Mr.  Paul  said  that  hun- 
ger would  make  them  attack  cattle.  Oh,  if 
we  could  only  poison  all  three! " 

Dell  rambled  on  until  they  reached  the 
stable.  He  treated  his  mind  to  visions  of 
wealth,  and  robes,  and  furry  overcoats.  The 
wolves  had  located  the  corral,  the  winter  had 
barely  begun,  but  the  boys  were  aware  of  the 
presence  of  an  enemy. 

A  complete  circle  of  the  corral  was  made 
the  following  morning.  No  tracks  were  visi- 
ble, nor  were  any  wolves  sighted  before  thaw- 
ing weather  temporarily  released  the  range 
from  the  present  wintry  grip.  A  fortnight  of 
ideal  winter  followed,  clear,  crisp  days  and 
frosty  nights,  ushering  in  a  general  blizzard, 
which  swept  the  plains  from  the  British  pos- 
sessions to  the  Rio  Grande,  and  left  death 
and  desolation  in  its  pathway.  Fortunately  its 
harbingers  threw  its  menace  far  in  advance, 
affording  the  brothers  ample  time  to  reach  the 
corral,  which  they  did  at  a  late  evening  hour. 
The  day  had  been  balmy  and  warm,  the  cat- 
tle came  in,  gorged  from  a  wide  circle  over 
buffalo  grass,  the  younger  ones,  as  if  instinc- 
tive of  the  coming  storm  and  in  gratitude  of 
the  shelter,  even  kicking  up  their  heels  on 
entering  the  gates.  The  boys  had  ample  time 
to  reach  headquarters,  much  in  doubt  even 


GOOD  FIGHTING  155 

then  whether  a  storm  would  strike  or  pass 
away  in  blustering  threats. 

It  began  at  darkness,  with  a  heavy  fall  of 
soft  snow.  Fully  a  foot  had  fallen  by  bedtime, 
and  at  midnight  the  blizzard  struck,  howling 
as  if  all  the  demons  of  night  and  storm  were 
holding  high  carnival.  Towards  morning  a 
creeping  cold  penetrated  the  shack,  something 
unknown  before,  and  awoke  the  boys,  shiver- 
ing in  their  blankets.  It  was  near  their  hour 
for  rising,  and  once  a  roaring  fire  warmed 
up  the  interior  of  the  room,  Joel  took  a  peep 
without,  but  closed  the  door  with  a  shudder. 

"  It 's  blowing  a  hurricane,"  said  he,  shiver- 
ing over  the  stove.  "  This  is  a  regular  bliz- 
zard —  those  others  were  only  squalls.  I  doubt 
if  we  can  reach  the  stable  before  daybreak. 
Those  poor  cattle  —  " 

The  horses  were  their  first  concern.  As  was 
their  usual  custom,  well  in  advance  of  day- 
break an  attempt  was  made  to  reach  and  feed 
the  saddle  stock.  It  was  Joel's  task,  and  forti- 
fying himself  against  the  elements  without,  he 
announced  himself  as  ready  for  the  dash.  It 
was  less  than  a  dozen  rods  between  shack  and 
stable,  and  setting  a  tallow  dip  in  the  window 
for  a  beacon,  he  threw  open  the  door  and 
sprang  out.  He  possessed  a  courage  which 
had  heretofore  laughed  at  storms,  but  within 


1^6  WELLS   BROTHERS 

a  few  seconds  after  leaving  the  room^  he  burst 
open  the  door  and  fell  on  the  bed. 

"I'm  blinded,"  he  murmured.  "Put  out  the 
light  and  throw  a  blanket  over  my  head.  The 
sifting  snow  cut  my  eyes  like  sand.  I  '11  come 
around  in  a  little  while." 

Daybreak  revealed  nothing  worse  from  the 
driving  snow  than  inflamed  eyes  and  rough- 
ened cheeks,  when  another  attempt  was  made 
to  succor  the  horses.  Both  boys  joined  in  the 
hazard,  lashing  themselves  together  with  a 
long  rope,  and  reached  the  stable  in  safety.  On 
returning,  Dell  was  thrown  several  times  by 
the  buffeting  wind,  but  recovered  his  feet, 
and,  following  the  rope,  the  dug-out  was  safely 
reached. 

"  That 's  what  happened  to  me  in  the  dark- 
ness," said  Joel,  once  the  shelter  of  the  house 
was  reached.  "  I  got  whipped  off  my  feet, 
lost  my  bearings,  and  every  time  I  looked  for 
the  light,  my  eyes  filled  with  snow." 

There  was  no  abatement  of  the  blizzard  by 
noon.  It  was  impossible  to  succor  the  cattle, 
but  the  boys  were  anxious  to  reach  the  corral, 
which  was  fully  a  mile  from  the  shack.  Every 
foot  of  the  creek  was  known,  and  by  hugging 
the  leeward  bank  some  little  protection  would 
be  afforded  and  the  stream  would  lead  to  the 
cattle.  Near  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  there 


GOOD   FIGHTING  157 

was  a  noticeable  abatement  in  the  swirling 
snow,  when  the  horses  were  blanketed  to  the 
limit  and  an  effort  made  to  reach  the  corral. 
By  riding  bareback  it  was  believed  any  drifts 
could  be  forced,  at  least  allowing  a  freedom 
to  the  mounts  returning,  in  case  the  boys  lost 
their  course. 

The  blizzard  blew  directly  from  the  north, 
and  crossing  the  creek  on  a  direct  angle,  Joel 
led  the  way,  forcing  drifts  or  dismounting 
and  trampling  them  out  until  a  pathway  was 
made.  Several  times  they  were  able  to  make 
a  short  dash  between  known  points,  and  by 
hugging  the  sheltering  bank  of  the  creek, 
safely  reached  the  corral.  The  cattle  were 
slowly  milling  about,  not  from  any  excite- 
ment, the  exercise  being  merely  voluntary 
and  affording  warmth.  The  boys  fell  to  open- 
ing up  the  water,  the  cattle  crowding  around 
each  opening  and  drinking  to  their  content- 
ment. An  immense  comb  of  snow  hung  in  a 
semicircle  around  the  bend,  in  places  thirty  feet 
high  and  perpendicular,  while  in  others  it  con- 
caved away  into  recesses  and  vaults  as  fantas- 
tic as  frosting  on  a  window.  It  was  formed 
from  the  early,  softer  snow,  frozen  into  place, 
while  the  present  shifting  frost  poured  over  the 
comb  into  the  sheltered  cove,  misty  as  bride's 
veiling,  and  softening    the   grotesque    back- 


158  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ground  to  a  tint  equaled  only  in  the  fluffy 
whiteness  of  swan's-down. 

The  corral  met  every  requirement.  Its  pro- 
tecting banks  sheltered  the  herd  from  the 
raging  blizzard;  the  season  had  inured  the 
cattle,  given  them  shaggy  coats  to  withstand 
the  cold,  and  only  food  was  lacking  in  the 
present  trial.  After  rendering  every  assistance 
possible,  the  boys  remained  at  the  corral, 
hoping  the  sun  would  burst  forth  at  even- 
ing, only  to  meet  disappointment,  when  their 
horses  were  given  free  rein  and  carried  them 
home  in  a  short,  sure  dash. 

A  skirmish  for  grazing  ensued.  During 
the  next  few  days  there  was  little  or  no  sun- 
shine to  strip  the  divides  of  snow,  but  the 
cattle  were  taken  out  and  given  every  pos- 
sible chance.  The  first  noticeable  abatement 
of  the  storm  was  at  evening  of  the  third  day, 
followed  by  a  diminishing  fourth,  when  for 
the  first  time  the  herd  was  grazed  to  surfeit- 
ing. The  weather  gradually  faired  off,  the 
cattle  were  recovering  their  old  form,  when  a 
freak  of  winter  occurred.  A  week  from  the 
night  the  blizzard  swept  down  from  the  north, 
soft  winds  crept  up  the  valley,  promising 
thawing  weather  as  a  relief  to  the  recent 
wintry  siege.  But  dawn  came  with  a  heavy 
snow,  covering  the  range,  ending  in  rain,  fol- 


GOOD   FIGHTING  159 

lowed  by  a  freezing  night,  when  the  snow 
crusted  to  carry  the  weight  of  a  man,  and  hill 
and  valley  lay  in  the  grip  of  sleet  and  ice. 

It  was  the  unforeseen  in  the  lines  of  intrench- 
ment.  The  emergency  admitted  of  no  dally- 
ing. Cattle  do  not  paw  away  obstacles  as  do 
horses  and  other  animals  to  reach  the  grass, 
and  relief  must  come  in  the  form  of  human 
assistance.  Even  the  horses  were  helpless,  as 
the  snow  was  too  deep  under  the  sleet,  and 
any  attempt  to  trample  out  pathways  would 
have  left  the  winter  mounts  bleeding  and 
crippled.  The  emergency  demanded  men,  but 
two  boys  came  to  the  front  in  a  resourceful 
manner.  In  their  old  home  in  Ohio,  threshing 
flails  were  sometimes  used,  and  within  an  hour 
after  daybreak  Joel  Wells  had  fashioned  two 
and  was  breaking  a  trail  through  the  sleet  to 
the  corral. 

The  nearest  divide  lay  fully  a  mile  to  the 
north.  To  reach  it  with  the  cattle,  a  trail, 
a  rod  or  more  in  width,  would  have  to  be 
broken  out.  Leaving  their  horses  at  the  cor- 
ral, the  brothers  fell  at  the  task  as  if  it  had 
been  a  threshing  floor,  and  their  flails  rang 
out  from  contact  with  the  icy  sleet.  By  the 
time  they  had  reached  the  divide  it  was  high 
noon,  and  the  boys  were  wearied  by  the  morn- 
ing  task.    The    crusted    snow    lay  fully  six 


i6o  WELLS   BROTHERS 

inches  deep  on  an  average,  and  if  sustenance 
was  rendered  the  cattle,  whose  hungry  lowing 
reached  equally  hungry  boys,  the  icy  crust 
must  be  broken  over  the  feeding  grounds. 

It  looked  like  an  impossible  task.  "  Help 
me  break  out  a  few  acres,"  said  Joel,  "  and 
then  you  can  go  back  and  turn  out  the  cattle. 
Point  them  up  the  broken-out  trail,  and  bring 
my  horse  and  come  on  ahead  of  the  herd.  If 
we  can  break  out  a  hundred  acres,  even,  the 
cattle  can  nose  around  and  get  down  to  the 
grass.  It 's  our  one  hope." 

The  hungry  cattle  eagerly  followed  up  the 
icy  lane.  By  breaking  out  the  shallow  snow, 
the  ground  was  made  passably  available  to 
the  feeding  herd,  which  followed  the  boys  as 
sheep  follow  a  shepherd.  Fortunately  the 
weather  was  clear  and  cold,  and  if  temporary 
assistance  could  be  rendered  the  cattle,  a  few 
days'  sunshine  would  bare  the  ground  on 
southern  slopes  and  around  broken  places, 
affording  ample  grazing.  The  flails  rung  until 
sunset,  the  sleet  was  shattered  by  acres,  and 
the  cattle  led  home,  if  not  sufficiently  grazed, 
at  least  with  hunger  stayed. 

An  inch  of  soft  snow  fell  the  following 
night,  and  it  adhered  where  falling,  thus  pro- 
tecting the  sleet.  On  the  boys  reaching  the 
corrals    at  an   unusually   early   hour,  a   new 


GOOD   FIGHTING  161 

menace  threatened.  The  cattle  were  aroused, 
milling  excitedly  in  a  compact  mass,  while 
outside  the  inclosure  the  ground  was  fairly 
littered  with  wolf  tracks.  The  herd,  already 
weakened  by  the  severity  of  the  winter,  had 
been  held  under  a  nervous  strain  for  unknown 
hours,  or  until  its  assailants  had  departed  with 
the  dawn.  The  pendulum  had  swung  to  an 
evil  extreme ;  the  sleet  afforded  splendid  foot- 
ing to  the  wolves  and  denied  the  cattle  their 
daily  food. 

"Shall  we  put  out  poison  to-night?"  in- 
quired Dell,  on  summing  up  the  situation. 

"  There  's  no  open  water,"  replied  the  older 
boy,  "  and  to  make  a  dose  of  poison  effective, 
it  requires  a  drink.  The  bait  is  to  be  placed 
near  running  water  —  those  were  the  orders. 
We  've  got  five  hundred  cattle  here  to  succor 
first.  Open  the  gates." 

The  second  day's  work  in  the  sleet  proved 
more  effective.  The  sun  scattered  both  snow 
and  ice;  southern  slopes  bared,  trails  were 
beaten  out  to  every  foot  of  open  ground,  and 
by  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  fully  a  thou- 
sand acres  lay  bare,  inviting  the  herd  to  feast 
to  its  heart's  content.  But  a  night  on  their 
feet  had  tired  out  the  cattle,  and  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  they  were  prevented  from  lying 
down  in  preference  to  grazing.  On  such  occa- 


i62  WELLS   BROTHERS 

sions,  the  boys  threw  aside  their  flails,  and, 
mounting  their  horses,  aroused  the  exhausted 
animals,  shifting  them  to  better  grazing  and 
holding  them  on  their  feet. 

"  This  is  the  flrst  time  I  ever  saw  cattle 
too  tired  to  eat,"  said  Joel,  as  the  corral  gates 
were  being  roped  shut.  "Something  must  be 
done.  Rest  seems  as  needful  as  food.  This  is 
worse  than  any  storm  yet.  Half  of  them  are 
lying  down  already.  We  must  build  a  bonfire 
to-night.  Wolves  are  afraid  of  a  fire." 

Fully  half  the  cattle  refused  to  drink,  pre- 
ferring rest  or  having  eaten  snow  to  satisfy 
their  thirst.  The  condition  of  the  herd  was 
alarming,  not  from  want  of  food,  but  from  the 
hungry  prowlers  of  the  night.  Before  leaving, 
the  brothers  built  a  little  fire  outside  the  gate, 
as  best  they  could  from  the  fuel  at  hand,  ex- 
pecting to  return  later  and  replenish  the  wood 
supply  from  headquarters. 

The  boys  were  apt  in  adopting  Texas 
methods.  Once  the  horses  were  fed  and  their 
own  supper  eaten,  the  lads  fastened  onto  two 
dry  logs,  and  from  pommels  dragged  them 
up  to  the  tiny  blaze  at  the  corral  opening.  It 
was  early  in  the  evening,  the  herd  was  at  rest, 
and  the  light  of  the  bonfire  soon  lit  up  the 
corral  and  threw  fancy  shadows  on  the  comb- 
ing snow  which  formed  the  upper  rim.  The 


GOOD   FIGHTING  163 

night  was  crimping  cold,  and  at  a  late  hour 
the  boys  replenished  the  fire  and  returned 
home.  But  as  they  dismounted  at  the  stable, 
the  hunting  cry  of  a  wolf  pack  was  wafted 
down  the  valley  on  the  frosty  air,  and  an- 
swered by  a  band  far  to  the  south  in  the 
sand  hills. 

"  They  're  coming  again,"  said  Joel,  breath- 
lessly listening  for  the  distant  howling  to 
repeat.  "The  fire  ought  to  hold  them  at  a 
distance  until  nearly  morning.  Let 's  feed  the 
horses  and  turn  in  for  the  night." 

Daybreak  found  the  boys  at  the  corral.  No 
wolves  were  in  sight,  but  on  every  hand 
abundant  evidence  of  their  presence  during 
the  night  was  to  be  seen.  Nearly  all  the  cat- 
tle were  resting,  while  the  remainder,  prine 
cipally  mother  cows,  were  arrayed  in  battle 
form,  fronting  one  of  the  recesses  under  the 
combing  rim  of  snow.  On  riding  within  the 
corral,  the  dread  of  the  excited  cows  proved 
to  be  a  monster  wolf,  crouching  on  a  shelf  of 
snow.  He  arose  on  his  haunches  and  faced 
the  horsemen,  revealing  his  fangs,  while  his 
breast  was  covered  with  tiny  icicles,  caused 
by  the  driveling  slaver  during  the  night's  run. 
His  weight  was  responsible  for  his  present 
plight,  he  having  ventured  out  on  the  fragile 
comb  of  snow  above,  causing  it  to  cave  down^ 


i64  WELLS   BROTHERS 

and  in  the  bewilderment  of  the  moment  he 
had  skurried  to  the  safety  of  the  ledge  on 
which  he  then  rested. 

It  was  a  moment  of  excitement.  A  steady 
fire  of  questions  and  answers  passed  between 
the  younger  and  older  brother.  The  wolf  was 
in  hand,  the  horns  of  a  hundred  angry  cows 
held  the  enemy  prisoner,  and  yet  the  boys 
were  powerless  to  make  the  kill.  The  situation 
was  tantalizing. 

"Can't  we  poison  him?"  inquired  Dell,  in 
the  extremity  of  the  moment. 

"Certainly.  Hand  it  to  him  on  a  plate  — 
with  sugar  on  it." 

"  If  Mr.  Paul  had  only  left  us  his  pistol," 
meditated  Dell,  as  a  possibility. 

"  Yes,  you  could  about  hit  that  bank  with 
a  six-shooter.  It's  the  risk  of  a  man's  life  to 
wound  that  wolf.  He  's  cornered.  I  would  n't 
dismount  within  twenty  feet  of  him  for  this 
herd." 

"  I  could  shoot  him  from  Dog-toe.  This  is 
the  horse  from  which  Mr.  Paul  killed  the 
beef.  All  trail  horses  are  gun-proof." 

"My,  but  you  are  full  of  happy  ideas. 
We  've  got  to  let  that  wolf  go  —  we  can 't 
make  the  kill." 

"I  have  it!"  shouted  Dell,  ignoring  all 
rebuffs.   "  Dog-toe  is  a  roping  horse.    Throw 


DELL  WELLS 


*  >"*  t'» 


GOOD  FIGHTING  165 

wide  the  gates.  Give  me  a  clear  field,  and 
I  '11  lasso  that  wolf  and  drag  him  to  death,  or 
wrap  him  to  the  centre  gatepost  and  you  can 
kill  him  with  a  fence-stay.  Dog-toe,  I  'm 
going  to  rope  a  wolf  from  your  back,"  added 
Dell,  patting  the  horse's  neck  and  turning 
back  to  the  gate.  "  Show  me  the  mettle  of 
the  State  that  bred  you." 

"  You  're  crazy,"  said  Joel,  "  but  there 's  no 
harm  in  trying  it.  Whatever  happens,  stick 
to  your  saddle.  Cut  the  rope  if  it  comes  to 
a  pinch.  I  '11  get  a  fence-stay." 

Ever  since  the  killing  of  the  beef,  Dell  had 
diligently  practiced  with  a  rope.  It  responded 
to  the  cunning  of  his  hand,  and  the  danger 
of  the  present  moment  surely  admitted  of  no 
false  calculations.  Dell  dismounted  with  a 
splendid  assurance,  tightened  the  cinches, 
tied  his  rope  good  and  firm  to  the  fork  of  the 
saddle  tree,  mounted,  and  announced  himself 
as  ready.  The  cattle  were  drifted  left  and 
right,  opening  a.  lane  across  the  corral,  and 
Dell  rode  forward  to  study  the  situation.  Joel 
took  up  a  position  at  the  gate,  armed  only 
with  a  heavy  stay,  and  awaited  the  working 
out  of  the  experiment. 

The  hazard  savored  more  of  inexperience 
than  of  courage.  Dell  rode  carelessly  back 
and  forth,  edging  in  nearer  the  ledge  each 


i66  WELLS   BROTHERS 

time,  whirling  his  loop  in  passing,  at  which 
the  cowering  animal  arose  in  an  attitude  of 
defense.  Nodding  to  Joel  that  the  moment 
had  come,  as  the  horse  advanced  and  the 
enemy  came  within  reach,  the  singing  noose 
shot  out,  the  wolf  arose  as  if  to  spring,  and 
the  next  instant  Dog-toe  whirled  under  spur 
and  quirt,  leaving  only  a  blur  behind  as  he 
shot  across  the  corral.  Only  his  rider  had 
seen  the  noose  fall  true,  the  taut  rope  bespoke 
its  own  burden,  and  there  was  no  time  to 
shout.  For  an  instant,  Joel  held  his  breath, 
only  catching  a  swerve  in  the  oncoming  horse, 
whose  rider  bore  down  on  the  centre  post  of 
the  double  gate,  the  deviation  of  course  being 
calculated  to  entangle  the  rope's  victim.  The 
horse  flashed  through  the  gate,  something 
snapped,  the  rope  stood  in  air,  and  a  dull  thud 
was  heard  in  the  bewilderment  of  the  moment. 
The  blur  passed  in  an  instant,  and  a  monster 
dog  wolf  lay  at  the  gatepost,  relaxing  in  a 
spasm  of  death. 

Dell  checked  his  horse  and  returned,  la- 
menting the  loss  of  a  foot's  length  from  his 
favorite  rope.  It  had  cut  on  the  saddle  tree, 
and  thus  saved  horse  and  rider  from  an  ugly 
fall. 

"  He  lays  right  where  I  figured  to  kill  him 
— ^  against  that  post,"  said  Dell,  as  he  reined  in 


GOOD  FIGHTING  167 

and  looked  down  on  the  dead  wolf.  "  Do  you 
want  his  hide,  or  can  I  have  it?  " 

"  Drag  him  aside,"  replied  Joel,  "  while  I 
rouse  out  the  cattle.  I  '11  have  to  sit  up  with 
you  to-night." 


CHAPTER  XI 

HOLDING   THE    FORT 

THE  valley  lay  in  the  grasp  of  winter. 
On  the  hills  and  sunny  slopes,  the 
range  was  slowly  opening  to  the  sun. 
The  creek,  under  cover  of  ice  and  snow, 
forced  its  way,  only  yielding  to  axes  for  the 
time  being  and  closing  over  when  not  in  use. 

The  cattle  required  no  herding.  The  chief 
concern  of  the  brothers  was  to  open  more 
grazing  ground,  and  to  that  end  every  energy 
was  bent.  The  range  already  opened  lay  to 
the  north  of  the  Beaver,  and  although  double 
the  distance,  an  effort  was  made  to  break  out 
a  trail  to  the  divide  on  the  south.  The  herd 
was  turned  up  the  lane  for  the  day,  and  tak- 
ing their  flails,  the  boys  began  an  attack  on 
the  sleet.  It  was  no  easy  task,  as  it  was  fully 
two  miles  to  the  divide,  a  northern  slope,  and 
not  affected  by  the  sun  before  high  noon. 

The  flails  rang  out  merrily.  From  time  to 
time  the  horses  were  brought  forward,  their 
weight  shattering  the  broken  sleet  and  assist- 
ing in  breaking  out  a  pathway.  The  trail  was 
beaten  ten  feet  in  width  on  an  average,  and 


HOLDING   THE  FORT  169 

by  early  noon  the  divide  was  reached.  Sev- 
eral thousand  acres  lay  bare,  and  by  breaking 
out  all  drifts  and  depressions  running  north 
and  south  across  the  watershed,  new  grazing 
grounds  could  be  added  daily. 

A  discovery  was  made  on  the  return  trip. 
The  horses  had  been  brought  along  to  ride 
home  on,  but  in  testing  the  sleet  on  the 
divide,  the  sun  had  softened  the  crust  until  it 
would  break  under  the  weight  of  either  of  the 
boys.  By  walking  well  outside  the  trail,  the 
sleet  crushed  to  the  extent  of  five  or  six  feet, 
and  by  leading  their  horses,  the  pathway  was 
easily  doubled  in  width.  Often  the  crust 
cracked  to  an  unknown  distance,  easing  from 
the  frost,  which  the  boys  accepted  as  the 
forerunner  of  thawing  weather. 

"  We  '11  put  out  poison  to-night,"  said  Dell. 
"  It  will  hardly  freeze  a  shoal,  and  I  Ve  found 
one  below  the  corral." 

"I'm  just  as  anxious  as  you  to  put  out  the 
bait,"  replied  Joel,  "but  we  must  take  no 
chances  of  making  our  work  sure.  The  mo- 
ment the  cattle  quit  drinking,  the  water  holes 
freeze  over.  This  is  regular  old  Billy  Winter." 

"  I  '11  show  you  the  ripple  and  leave  it  to 
you,"  argued  the  younger  boy.  "Under  this 
crust  of  sleet  and  snow,  running  water  won't 
freeze." 


ijo  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"Along  about  sunset  we  can  tell  more  about 
the  weather  for  to-night,"  said  Joel,  with  a 
finality  which  disposed  of  the  matter  for  the 
present. 

On  reaching  the  corral,  the  older  boy  was 
delighted  with  the  splendid  trail  broken  out, 
but  Dell  rode  in  search  of  a  known  shallow 
in  the  creek.  An  old  wood  road  crossed  on 
the  pebbly  shoal,  and  forcing  his  horse  to 
feel  his  way  through  the  softened  crust,  a 
riplet  was  unearthed  as  it  purled  from  under 
an  earthen  bank. 

"  Here 's  your  running  water,"  shouted 
Dell,  dropping  the  reins  and  allowing  Dog- 
toe  to  drink.  "Here  you  are  —  come  and  see 
for  yourself." 

Joel  was  delighted  with  Dell's  discovery. 
In  fact,  the  water,  after  emerging  from  under 
a  concave  bank,  within  a  few  feet  passed 
under  another  arch,  its  motion  preventing 
freezing. 

"  Don 't  dismount,"  said  Joel,  emphasizing 
caution,  "  but  let  the  horses  break  a  narrow 
trail  across  the  water.  This  is  perfect.  We  '11 
build  another  fire  to-night,  and  lay  a  half 
dozen  baits  around  this  open  water." 

The  pelt  of  the  dead  wolf  was  taken,  when 
the  boys  cantered  in  home.  Time  was  barely 
allowed  to  bolt  a  meal,  when  the  loading  of 


HOLDING   THE   FORT  171 

the  wooden  troughs  was  begun.  Every  cau- 
tion urged  was  observed;  the  basins  were 
handled  with  a  hay  fork,  sledded  to  the  scene, 
and  dropped  from  horseback,  untouched  by  a 
human  hand.  To  make  sure  that  the  poison 
would  be  found,  a  rope  was  noosed  to  the 
carcass  and  a  scented  trace  was  made  from 
every  quarter,  converging  at  the  open  water 
and  tempting  baits. 

"There,"  said  Dell,  on  completing  the 
spoor,  "  if  that  does  n't  get  a  wolf,  then  our 
work  was  n't  cunningly  done." 

"Now,  don't  forget  to  throw  that  carcass 
back  on  the  ledge,  under  the  comb,"  added 
Joel.  "  Wolves  have  a  reputation  of  licking 
each  other's  bones,  and  we  must  deny  them 
everything  eatable  except  poisoned  suet." 

The  herd  would  not  return  of  its  own  ac- 
cord, and  must  be  brought  in  to  the  corral.  As 
the  boys  neared  the  divide  and  came  in  sight  of 
the  cattle,  they  presented  a  state  of  alarm.  The 
presence  of  wolves  was  at  once  suspected,  and 
dashing  up  at  a  free  gallop,  the  lads  arrived  in 
time  to  save  the  life  of  a  young  steer.  The 
animal  had  grazed  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
herd,  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  a  lurking 
band  of  wolves,  until  attacked  by  the  hungry 
pack.  Nothing  but  the  energetic  use  of  his 
horns  saved  his  life,  as  he  dared  not  run  for 


172  WELLS   BROTHERS 

fear  of  being  dragged  down,  and  could  only 
stand  and  fight. 

The  first  glimpse  of  the  situation  brought 
the  boys  to  the  steer's  rescue.  Shaking  out 
their  horses,  with  a  shout  and  clatter  of  hoofs, 
they  bore  down  on  the  struggle,  when  the 
wolves  suddenly  forsook  their  victim  and 
slunk  away.  The  band  numbered  eight  by 
easy  count,  as  they  halted  within  two  hundred 
yards  and  lay  down,  lolling  their  tongues  as 
if  they  expected  to  return  and  renew  the 
attack. 

"Did  you  ever  hear  of  anything  like  this?  " 
exclaimed  Dell,  as  the  brothers  reined  in  their 
horses  to  a  halt.  "Attacking  in  broad  day- 
light!" 

"  They  're  starving,"  replied  Joel.  "  This 
sleet  makes  it  impossible  to  get  food  else- 
where. One  of  us  must  stay  with  the  cattle 
hereafter." 

"  Well,  we  saved  a  steer  and  got  a  wolf  to- 
day," boastfully  said  Dell.  "  That 's  not  a  bad 
beginning." 

"Yes,  but  it's  the  end  I  dread.  If  this 
weather  lasts  a  month  longer,  some  of  these 
cattle  will  feed  the  wolves." 

There  was  prophecy  in  Joel's  remark.  The 
rescued  animal  was  turned  into  the  herd  and 
the  cattle  started  homeward.  At  a  distance. 


HOLDING   THE   FORT  173 

the  wolves  followed,  peeping  over  the  divide 
as  the  herd  turned  down  the  pathway  leading 
to  the  corral.  Fuel  had  been  sledded  up,  and 
after  attending  to  the  details  of  water  and  fire, 
the  boys  hurried  home. 

The  weather  was  a  constant  topic.  It  be- 
came the  first  concern  of  the  morning  and  the 
last  observation  of  the  night.  The  slightest 
change  was  noticeable  and  its  portent  dreaded. 
Following  the  blizzard,  every  moderation  of 
the  temperature  brought  more  snow  or  sleet. 
Unless  a  general  thaw  came  to  the  relief  of 
the  cattle,  any  change  in  the  weather  was  un- 
desirable. 

A  sleepless  night  followed.  It  was  later 
than  usual  when  the  boys  replenished  the  fire 
and  left  the  corral.  Dell's  imagination  covered 
the  limits  of  all  possibilities.  He  counted  the 
victims  of  the  poison  for  the  night,  estimated 
the  number  of  wolves  tributary  to  the  Beaver, 
counted  his  bales  of  peltry,  and  awoke  with 
a  start.  Day  was  breaking,  the  horses  were 
already  fed,  and  he  was  impatient  for  saddles 
and  away. 

"How  many  do  you  say?"  insisted  Dell,  as 
they  left  the  stable. 

"  One,"  answered  Joel. 

"Oh,  we  surely  got  seven  out  of  those 
eight." 


174  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"  There  were  only  six  baits.  You  had  better 
scale  down  your  estimate.  Leave  a  few  for 
luck." 

Nothing  but  the  cold  facts  could  shake 
Dell's  count  of  the  chickens.  Joel  intention- 
ally delayed  the  start,  loitering  between  house 
and  corral,  and  when  no  longer  able  to  re- 
strain his  impulsive  brother,  together  they 
reached  the  scene.  Dell's  heart  failed  him  — 
not  a  dead  wolf  lay  in  sight.  Every  bait  had 
been  disturbed.  Some  of  the  troughs  had 
been  gnawed  to  splinters,  every  trace  of  the 
poisoned  suet  had  been  licked  out  of  the  auger 
holes,  while  the  snow  was  littered  with  wolf 
tracks. 

"  Our  cunning  must  be  at  fault,"  remarked 
Joel,  as  he  surveyed  the  scene  and  empty 
basins. 

Dell  looked  beaten.  "  My  idea  is  that  we 
had  too  few  baits  for  the  number  of  visitors. 
See  the  fur,  where  they  fought  over  the 
tallow.  That's  it;  there  wasn't  enough  suet 
to  leave  a  good  taste  in  each  one's  mouth. 
From  the  looks  of  the  ground,  there  might 
have  been  fifty  wolves." 

The  boy  reasoned  well.  Experience  is  a 
great  school.  The  brothers  awoke  to  the  fact 
that  in  the  best  laid  plans  of  mice  and  men 
the  unforeseen  is  ever  present.  Their  sponsors 


HOLDING   THE   FORT  175 

could  only  lay  down  the  general  rule,  and 
the  exceptions  threw  no  foreshadows.  No  one 
could  foresee  that  the  grip  of  winter  would 
concentrate  and  bring  down  on  the  little  herd 
the  hungry,  roving  wolf  packs. 

"Take  out  the  herd  to-day,"  said  Dell, 
"and  let  me  break  out  more  running  water. 
I  '11  take  these  basins  in  and  refill  them,  make 
new  ones,  and  to-night  we  '11  put  out  fifty 
baits." 

The  cattle  were  pointed  up  the  new  trail  to 
the  southern  divide.  Joel  took  the  herd,  and 
Dell  searched  the  creek  for  other  shallows 
tributary  to  the  corral.  Three  more  were 
found  within  easy  distance,  when  the  troughs 
were  gathered  with  fork  and  sled,  and  taken 
home  to  be  refilled.  It  was  Dell  Wells's  busy 
day.  Cunning  and  caution  were  his  helpers; 
slighting  nothing,  ever  crafty  on  the  side  of 
safety,  he  cut,  bored,  and  charred  new  basins, 
to  double  the  original  number.  After  loading, 
for  fear  of  any  human  taint,  he  dipped  the 
troughs  in  water  and  laid  them  in  the  shade  to 
freeze.  A  second  trip  with  the  sled  was  re- 
quired to  transport  the  basins  up  to  the  corral, 
the  day's  work  being  barely  finished  in  time 
for  him  to  assist  in  penning  the  herd. 

"  How  many  baits  have  you  ?  "  was  JoePs 
hail. 


176  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"  Sixty  odd." 

"You'll  need  them.  Three  separate  wolf 
packs  lay  in  sight  all  the  afternoon.  Several 
times  they  crept  up  within  one  hundred  yards 
of  the  cattle.  One  band  numbered  upwards 
of  twenty." 

"Let  them  come,"  defiantly  said  Dell. 
"The  banquet  is  spread.  Everything's 
done,  except  to  drag  the  carcass,  and  I  did  n't 
want  to  do  that  until  after  the  cattle  were 
corraled." 

The  last  detail  of  the  day  was  to  build  a  little 
fire,  which  would  die  out  within  an  hour  after 
darkness.  It  would  allow  the  cattle  time  to 
bed  down  and  the  packs  to  gather.  As  usualj 
it  was  not  the  intention  of  the  boys  to  return,* 
and  as  they  mounted  their  horses  to  leave, 
all  the  welled-up  savage  in  Dell  seemed  to 
burst  forth. 

"Welcome,  Mr.  Wolf,  welcome,"  said  he, 
with  mimic  sarcasm  and  a  gesture  which 
swept  the  plain.  "  I  've  worked  like  a  dog  all 
day  and  the  feast  is  ready.  Mrs.  Wolf,  will 
you  have  a  hackberry  plate,  or  do  you  prefer 
the  scent  of  cottonwood  ?  You  '11  find  the 
tender,  juicy  kidney  suet  in  the  ash  platters. 
Each  table  seats  sixteen,  with  fresh  water 
right  at  hand.  Now,  have  pallets  and  enjoy 
yourselves.    Make  a  night  of  it.    Eat,  drink, 


HOLDING  THE  FORT  177 

and  be  merry,  for  to-morrow  your  pelts  are 


mine." 


"Don't  count  your  chickens  too  soon," 
urged  Joel. 

"  To-morrow  you 're  mine  ! "  repeated  Dell, 
ignoring  all  advice.  "  I  '11  carpet  the  dug-out 
with  your  hides,  or  sell  them  to  a  tin  peddler." 

"You  counted  before  they  were  hatched 
this  morning,"  admonished  his  brother. 
"You're  only  entitled  to  one  guess." 

"  Unless  they  got  enough  to  sicken  them 
last  night,"  answered  Dell  with  emphasis,  "  no- 
thing short  of  range  count  will  satisfy  me." 

A  night  of  conjecture  brought  a  morning 
with  results.  Breakfast  was  forgotten,  saddles 
were  dispensed  with,  while  the  horses,  as  they 
covered  the  mile  at  a  gallop,  seemed  to  catch 
the  frenzy  of  expectation.  Dell  led  the  way, 
ignoring  all  counsel,  until  Dog-toe,  on  round- 
ing a  curve,  shied  at  a  dead  wolf  in  the  trail, 
almost  unhorsing  his  rider. 

"There's  one!"  shouted  Dell,  as  he  re- 
gained his  poise.  "  I  '11  point  them  out  and  you 
count.  There's  another!  There's  two  more!" 

It  was  a  ghastly  revel.  Like  sheaves  in  a 
harvest  field,  dead  wolves  lay  around  every 
open  water.  Some  barely  turned  from  the 
creek  and  fell,  others  struggled  for  a  moment, 
while  a  few  blindly  wandered  away  for  short 


178  WELLS   BROTHERS 

distances.  The  poison  had  worked  to  a  nicety; 
when  the  victims  were  collected,  by  actual 
count  they  numbered  twenty-eight.  It  was  a 
victory  to  justify  shouting,  but  the  gruesome 
sight  awed  the  brothers  into  silence.  Hunger 
had  driven  the  enemy  to  their  own  death,  and 
the  triumph  of  the  moment  at  least  touched 
one  sensitive  heart. 

"  This  is  more  than  we  bargained  for,"  re- 
marked Joel  in  a  subdued  voice,  after  survey- 
ing the  ravages  of  poison. 

"Our  task  is  to  hold  these  cattle,"  replied 
Dell.  "We're  soldiering  this  winter,  and  our 
one  duty  is  to  hold  the  fort.  What  would  Mr. 
Paul  say  if  we  let  the  wolves  kill  our  cattle  ?" 

After  breakfast  Joel  again  led  the  herd 
south  for  the  day,  leaving  Dell  at  the  corral. 
An  examination  of  the  basins  was  made,  re- 
vealing the  fact  that  every  trace  of  the  poi- 
soned suet  had  been  licked  out  of  the  holders. 
Of  a  necessity,  no  truce  with  the  wolf  became 
the  slogan  of  the  present  campaign.  No  mushy 
sentiment  was  admissible  —  the  fighting  was 
not  over,  and  the  powder  must  be  kept  dry. 
The  troughs  were  accordingly  sledded  into 
the  corral,  where  any  taint  from  the  cattle 
would  further  disarm  suspicion,  and  left  for 
future  use. 

The  taking  of  so  many  pelts  looked  like  an 


HOLDING  THE  FORT  179 

impossible  task  for  a  boy.  But  Dell  recalled, 
among  the  many  experiences  with  which  For- 
rest, when  a  cripple,  regaled  his  nurses,  was  the 
skinning  of  winter-killed  cattle  with  a  team. 
The  san;ie  principle  applied  in  pelting  a  wolf, 
where  by  very  little  aid  of  a  knife,  about  the 
head  and  legs,  a  horse  could  do  the  work  of 
a  dozen  men.  The  corral  fence  afforded  the 
ready  snubbing-post,  Dog-toe  could  pull  his 
own  weight  on  a  rope  from  a  saddle  pommel, 
and  theory,  when  reduced  to  the  practical,  is  a 
welcome  auxiliary.  The  head  once  bared,  the 
carcass  was  snubbed  to  the  centre  gate  post, 
when  a  gentle  pull  from  a  saddle  horse,  aided 
by  a  few  strokes  of  a  knife,  a  second  pull,  and 
the  pelt  was  perfectly  taken.  It  required  steady 
mounting  and  dismounting,  a  gentle,  easy 
pull,  a  few  inches  or  a  foot,  and  with  the  pa- 
tience of  a  butcher's  son.  Dog-toe  earned  his 
corn  and  his  master  a  bale  of  peltry. 

Evening  brought  report  of  further  annoy- 
ance of  wolves.  New  packs  had  evidently 
joined  forces  with  the  remnants  of  the  day  be- 
fore, as  there  was  neither  reduction  in  num- 
bers nor  lessening  in  approach  or  attitude. 

"Ours  are  the  only  cattle  between  the  Re- 
publican River  in  Nebraska  and  the  Smoky 
River  in  this  State,"  said  Joel,  in  explanation. 
"  Rabbits  and  other  rodents  are  at  home  under 


i8o  WELLS   BROTHERS 

this  sleet,  and  what  is  there  to  live  on  but 
stock  ?  You  have  to  hold  the  cattle  under  the 
closest  possible  herd  to  avoid  attack." 

"  That  will  made  the  fighting  all  the  better," 
gloatingly  declared  Dell.  "  Dog-toe  and  I  are 
in  the  fur  business.  Let  the  wolves  lick  the 
bones  of  their  brethren  to-night,  and  to-mor- 
row I  '11  spread  another  banquet." 

The  few  days'  moderation  in  the  weather 
brought  a  heavy  snowfall  that  night.  Fortu- 
nately the  herd  had  enjoyed  two  days'  graz- 
ing, but  every  additional  storm  had  a  tendency 
to  weaken  the  cattle,  until  it  appeared  an  open 
question  whether  they  would  fall  a  prey  to  the 
wolves  or  succumb  to  the  elements.  A  week 
of  cruel  winter  followed  the  local  storm,  dur- 
ing which  three  head  of  cattle,  cripples  which 
had  not  fully  recuperated,  in  the  daily  march 
to  the  divides  fell  in  the  struggle  for  suste- 
nance and  fed  the  wintry  scavengers.  It  was 
a  repetition  of  the  age-old  struggle  for  exist- 
ence— the  clash  between  the  forces  of  good 
and  evil,  with  the  wolf  in  the  ascendant. 

The  first  night  which  would  admit  of  open 
water,  thirty-one  wolves  fell  in  the  grip  of 
poison.  It  was  give  and  take  thereafter,  not  an 
eye  for  an  eye,  but  in  a  ratio  of  ten  to  one. 
The  dug-out  looked  like  a  trapper's  cave,  car- 
peted with  peltry,  while  every  trace  of  senti- 


HOLDING   THE   FORT  181 

ment  for  the  enemy,  in  the  wintry  trial  which 
followed,  died  out  in  the  hearts  of  the  boys. 

Week  after  week  passed,  with  the  elements 
allied  with  the  wolves  against  the  life  of  the 
herd.  On  the  other  hand,  a  sleepless  vigilance 
and  sullen  resolve  on  the  part  of  the  besieged, 
aided  by  fire  and  poison,  alone  held  the  fight- 
ing line.  To  see  their  cattle  fall  to  feed  the 
wolves,  helpless  to  relieve,  was  a  bitter  cup 
to  the  struggling  boys. 

A  single  incident  broke  the  monotony  of 
the  daily  grind.  One  morning  near  the  end 
of  the  fifth  week,  when  the  boys  rode  to  the 
corral  at  an  early  hour,  in  order  to  learn  the 
result  of  poison,  a  light  kill  of  wolves  lay 
in  sight  around  the  open  water.  While  they 
were  attempting  to  make  a  rough  count  of 
the  dead  from  horseback,  a  wolf,  supposed  to 
be  poisoned,  sprang  fully  six  feet  into  the  air, 
snapping  left  and  right  before  falling  to  the 
ground.  Nothing  but  the  agility  of  Rowdy 
saved  himself  or  rider,  who  was  nearly  un- 
horsed, from  being  maimed  or  killed  from  the 
vicious,  instant  assault. 

The  brothers  withdrew  to  a  point  of  safety. 
Joel  was  blanched  to  the  color  of  the  snow, 
his  horse  trembled  in  every  muscle,  but  Dell 
shook  out  his  rope. 

"  Hold  on,"  urged  Joel,  gasping  for  breath. 


i82  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"Hold  on.  That's  a  mad  wolf,  or  else  it's 
dying." 

"He's  poisoned,"  replied  Dell.  "See  how 
he  la37S  his  head  back  on  his  flank.  "It's  the 
griping  of  the  poison.  Half  of  them  die  in 
just  that  position.  I  'm  going  to  rope  and  drag 
him  to  death." 

But  the  crunching  of  the  horse's  feet  in  the 
snow  aroused  the  victim,  and  he  again  sprang 
wildly  upward,  snapping  as  before,  and  re- 
vealing fangs  that  bespoke  danger.  Strug- 
gling to  its  feet,  the  wolf  ran  aimlessly  in 
a  circle,  gradually  enlarging  until  it  struck 
a  strand  of  wire  in  the  corral  fence,  the  re- 
bound of  which  threw  the  animal  flat,  when 
it  again  curled  its  head  backward  and  lay 
quiet. 

"  Rope  it,"  said  Joel  firmly,  shaking  out  his 
own  lasso.  "  If  it  gets  into  that  corral  it  will 
kill  a  dozen  cattle.  That  I  've  got  a  live  horse 
under  me  this  minute  is  because  that  wolf 
missed  Rowdy's  neck  by  a  hand-breadth." 

The  trampled  condition  of  the  snow  around 
the  corral  favored  approach.  Dell  made  a  long 
but  perfect  throw,  the  wolf  springing  as  the 
rope  settled,  closing  with  one  foot  through 
the  loop.  The  rope  was  cautiously  wrapped 
to  the  pommel,  could  be  freed  in  an  instant, 
and  whirling  Dog-toe,  his  rider  reined  the 


HOLDING   THE   FORT  183 

horse  out  over  the  lane  leading  to  the  herd's 
feeding  ground  to  the  south.  The  first  quarter 
of  a  mile  was  an  indistinct  blur,  out  of  which 
a  horse  might  be  seen,  then  a  boy,  or  a  wolf 
arose  on  wings  and  soared  for  an  instant.  Sud- 
denly the  horse  doubled  back  over  the  lane, 
and  as  his  rider  shot  past  Joel,  a  fire  of  re- 
quests was  vaguely  heard,  regarding  "  a  noose 
that  had  settled  foul,"  of  "a  rope  that  was  be- 
ing gnawed  "  and  a  general  inability  to  strangle 
a  wolf. 

Joel  saw  the  situation  in  an  instant.  The 
rope  had  tightened  around  the  wolfs  chest, 
leaving  its  breathing  unaffected,  while  a  few 
effectual  snaps  of  those  terrible  teeth  would 
sever  any  lasso.  Shaking  out  a  loop  in  his 
own  rope,  as  Dell  circled  back  over  the  other 
trail,  Rowdy  carried  his  rider  within  easy 
casting  distance,  the  lasso  hissed  through  the 
air,  settled  true,  when  two  cow-horses  threw 
their  weight  against  each  other,  and  the  wolf's 
neck  was  broken  as  easily  as  a  rotten  thread. 

"A  little  of  this  goes  a  long  way  with  me," 
said  Joel  from  the  safety  of  his  saddle. 

"Oh,  it's  fine  practice,"  protested  Dell,  as 
he  dismounted  and  kicked  the  dead  wolf. 
"  Did  you  notice  my  throw  ?  If  it  was  an  inch, 
it  was  thirty  feet !  " 

In  its  severity,  the  winter  of  1885-86  stands 


i84  WELLS   BROTHERS 

alone  in  range  cattle  histor}^  It  came  rather 
early,  but  proved  to  be  the  pivotal  trial  in  the 
lives  of  Dell  and  Joel  Wells.  Six  weeks,  plus 
three  days,  after  the  worst  blizzard  in  the 
history  of  the  range  industry,  the  siege  was 
lifted  and  the  Beaver  valley  groaned  in  her 
gladness.  Sleet  cracks  ran  for  miles,  every 
pool  in  the  creek  threw  off  its  icy  gorge,  and 
the  plain  again  smiled  within  her  own  limits. 
Had  the  brothers  been  thorough  plainsmen, 
they  could  have  foretold  the  coming  thaw,  as 
three  days  before  its  harbingers  reached  them 
every  lurking  wolf,  not  from  fear  of  poison, 
but  instinctive  of  open  country  elsewhere,  for- 
sook the  Beaver,  not  to  return  the  remainder 
of  the  winter. 

"That's  another  time  you  counted  the 
chickens  too  soon,"  said  Joel  to  his  brother, 
when  the  usual  number  of  baits  failed  to  bring 
down  a  wolf. 

"  Very  good,"  replied  Dell.  "  The  way  ac- 
counts stand,  we  lost  twelve  cattle  against 
one  hundred  and  eighteen  pelts  taken.  I'll 
play  that  game  all  winter." 


CHAPTER  XII 

A   WINTER    DRIFT 

THE  month  of  March  was  the  last  in- 
trenchment  in  the  wintry  siege.  If  it 
could  be  weathered,  victory  would 
crown  the  first  good  fight  of  the  boys,  reward- 
ing their  courage  in  the  present  struggle  and 
fortifying  against  future  ones.  The  brothers 
had  cast  their  lot  with  the  plains,  the  occupa- 
tion had  almost  forced  itself  on  them,  and  hav- 
ing tasted  the  spice  of  battle,  they  buckled  on 
their  armor  and  rode  forth.  Without  struggle 
or  contest,  the  worthy  pleasures  of  life  lose 
their  nectar. 

The  general  thaw  came  as  a  welcome  re- 
lief. The  cattle  had  gradually  weakened,  a 
round  dozen  had  fallen  in  sacrifice  to  the  ele- 
ments, and  steps  must  be  taken  to  recuperate 
the  herd. 

"  We  must  loose-herd  hereafter,"  said  Joel, 
rejoicing  in  the  thawing  weather.  "A  few 
warm  days  and  the  corral  will  get  miry.  Un- 
less the  wolves  return,  we  '11  not  pen  the  cattle 
again." 

Dell  was  in  high  feather.  "The  winter's 


i86  WELLS   BROTHERS 

over,"  said  he.  "  Listen  to  the  creek  talking 
to  itself.  No,  we  '11  not  have  to  corral  the  herd 
any  longer.  Was  n't  we  lucky  not  to  have  any 
more  cattle  winter-killed!  Every  day  during 
the  last  month  I  felt  that  another  week  of 
winter  would  take  half  the  herd.  It  was  good 
fighting,  and  I  feel  like  shouting." 

"  It  was  the  long  distance  between  the  cor- 
ral and  the  divides  that  weakened  the  cattle," 
said  Joel.  "Hereafter  we'll  give  them  all  the 
range  they  need  and  only  put  them  under 
close-herd  at  night.  There  may  be  squally 
weather  yet,  but  little  danger  of  a  general 
storm.  After  this  thaw,  farmers  on  the  Solo- 
mon will  begin  their  spring  ploughing." 

A  fortnight  of  fine  weather  followed.  The 
herd  was  given  almost  absolute  freedom,  scat- 
tering for  miles  during  the  day,  and  only 
thrown  together  at  nightfall.  Even  then,  as 
the  cattle  grazed  entirely  by  day,  a  mile  square 
of  dry  slope  was  considered  compact  enough 
for  the  night.  The  extra  horses,  which  had 
ranged  for  the  winter  around  Hackberry 
Grove,  were  seen  only  occasionally  and  their 
condition  noted.  The  winter  had  haired  them 
like  llamas,  the  sleet  had  worked  no  hardship, 
as  a  horse  paws  to  the  grass,  and  any  concern 
for  the  outside  saddle  stock  was  needless. 

The  promise  of  spring  almost  disarmed  the 


A   WINTER  DRIFT  187 

boys.  Dell  was  anxious  to  know  the  value  of 
the  bales  of  peltry,  and  constantly  urged  his 
brother  for  permission  to  ride  to  the  railroad 
and  inquire. 

"What's  your  hurry?"  was  Joel's  re- 
joinder. "  I  have  n't  shouted  yet.  I  'm  not  sure 
that  we're  out  of  the  woods.  Let's  win  for 
sure  first." 

"But  we  ought  to  write  to  Mr.  Paul  and 
Mr.  Quince,"  urged  the  younger  boy,  by  way 
of  a  double  excuse.  "  There  may  be  a  letter 
from  them  at  Grinnell  now.  Let's  write  to 
our  friends  in  Texas  and  tell  them  that  we  've 
won  the  fight.  The  spring's  here." 

"You  can  go  to  the  station  later,"  replied 
Joel.  "The  fur  will  keep,  and  we  may  have 
quite  a  spell  of  winter  yet.  Don't  you  remem- 
ber the  old  weather  proverb,  of  March  com- 
ing in  like  a  lion  and  going  out  like  a  lamb? 
This  one  came  in  like  a  lamb,  and  we  had  bet- 
ter keep  an  eye  on  it  for  fear  it  goes  out  like 
a  lion.  You  can  go  to  the  railroad  in  April." 

There  was  wisdom  in  Joel's  random  ad- 
vice. As  yet  there  was  no  response  in  the 
earth  to  the  sun's  warmth.  The  grass  was 
timid  and  refused  to  come  forth,  and  only  a 
few  foolish  crows  had  reached  the  shrub  and 
willow  along  the  Beaver,  while  the  absence 
of  other  signs  of  spring  carried  a  warning  that 


i88  WELLS   BROTHERS 

the  wintry  elements  might  yet  arise  and  roar 
like  a  young  lion. 

The  one  advantage  of  the  passing  days  was 
the  general  improvement  in  the  herd.  The  in- 
stinct of  the  cattle  led  them  to  the  buffalo 
grass,  which  grew  on  the  slopes  and  divides, 
and  with  three  weeks  of  fair  weather  and  full 
freedom  the  herd  as  a  whole  rounded  into 
form,  reflecting  its  tenacity  of  life  and  the  able 
handling  of  its  owners. 

Within  ten  days  of  the  close  of  the  month, 
the  weakened  lines  of  intrenchment  were 
again  assaulted.  The  herd  was  grazing  west- 
ward, along  the  first  divide  south  of  the 
Beaver,  when  a  squall  struck  near  the  middle 
of  the  afternoon.  It  came  without  warning,  and 
found  the  cattle  scattered  to  the  limits  of  loose 
herding,  but  under  the  eyes  of  two  alert  horse- 
men. Their  mounts  responded  to  the  task, 
circling  the  herd  on  different  sides,  but  before 
it  could  be  thrown  into  mobile  form  and 
pointed  into  the  Beaver  valley,  a  swirl  of  soft 
snow  enveloped  horses  and  riders,  cattle  and 
landscape.  The  herd  turned  its  back  to  the 
storm,  and  took  up  the  steady,  sullen  march 
of  a  winter  drift.  Cut  off  from  the  corral  by 
fully  five  miles,  the  emergency  of  the  hour 
must  be  met,  and  the  brothers  rode  to  dispute 
the  progress  of  the  drifting  cattle. 


A   WINTER   DRIFT  189 

"Where  can  we  turn  them?"  timidly  in- 
quired Dell. 

"  Unless  the  range  of  sand  dunes  catch  us/' 
replied  Joel,  "  nothing  short  of  the  brakes  of 
the  Prairie  Dog  will  check  the  cattle.  We  're 
out  until  this  storm  spends  its  force." 

"  Let 's  beat  for  the  sand  hills,  then.  They 
lay  to  our  right,  and  the  wolves  are  gone." 

"The  storm  is  from  the  northwest.  If  it 
holds  from  that  quarter,  we'll  miss  the  sand 
dunes  by  several  miles.  Then  it  becomes  a 
question  of  horseflesh." 

"  If  we  miss  the  sand  hills,  I  '11  go  back 
and  get  a  pack  horse  and  overtake  you  to- 
morrow. It  is  n't  cold,  and  Dog-toe  can  face 
the  storm." 

"That's  our  one  hope,"  admitted  Joel. 
"  We  've  brought  these  cattle  through  a  hard 
winter  and  now  we  must  n't  lose  them  in  a 
spring  squall." 

The  wind  blew  a  gale.  Ten  minutes  after 
the  storm  struck  and  the  cattle  turned  to 
drift  with  it,  all  knowledge  of  the  quarter  of 
the  compass  was  lost.  It  was  a  reasonable 
allowance  that  the  storm  would  hold  a  true 
course  until  its  wrath  was  spent,  and  relying 
on  that  slender  thread,  the  boys  attempted  to 
veer  the  herd  for  the  sand  hills.  By  nature 
cattle  are  none  too  gregarious,  as  only  under 


igo  WELLS   BROTHERS 

fear  will  they  flock  compactly,  and  the  danger 
of  splitting  the  herd  into  wandering  contingents 
must  be  avoided.  On  the  march  which  lay  be- 
fore it,  its  compactness  must  be  maintained, 
and  to  turn  half  the  herd  into  the  sand  dunes 
and  let  the  remainder  wander  adrift  was  out 
of  the  question. 

"  We'll  have  to  try  out  the  temper  of  the 
herd,"  said  Joel.  "  The  cattle  are  thin,  have 
lost  their  tallow,  and  this  wind  seems  to  be 
cutting  them  to  the  quick.  There  's  no  use  in 
turning  the  lead  unless  the  swing  cattle  will 
follow.  It 's  better  to  drift  until  the  storm 
breaks  than  to  split  the  herd  into  little 
bunches." 

"Let's  try  for  the  sand  hills,  anyhow," 
urged  Dell.  "Turn  the  leaders  ever  so  slightly, 
and  I  '11  try  and  keep  the  swing  cattle  in 
line." 

An  effort  to  reach  the  shelter  of  the  sand 
dunes  was  repeatedly  made.  But  on  each  at- 
tempt the  wind,  at  freezing  temperature,  cut 
the  cattle  to  the  bone,  and  as  drifting  was  so 
much  more  merciful,  the  brothers  chose  to 
abandon  the  idea  of  reaching  a  haven  in  the 
sand  hills. 

"The  cattle  are  too  weak,"  admitted  Joel, 
after  repeated  efforts.  "  Turn  the  leaders  and 
they  hump  their  backs  and  halt.   An  hour  of 


A  WINTER   DRIFT  191 

this  wind  would  drop  them  in  their  tracks. 
It's  drift  or  die." 

"I'll  drop  back  and  see  how  the  drag 
cattle  are  coming  on,"  suggested  Dell,  "  and 
if  they're  in  line  I  might  as  well  start  after  a 
pack  horse.  We're  only  wearing  out  our 
horses  in  trying  to  turn  this  herd." 

The  efforts  to  veer  the  herd  had  enabled 
the  drag  end  to  easily  keep  in  a  compact 
line,  and  on  Dell's  return  to  the  lead,  he  re- 
ported the  drifting  column  less  than  a  quarter 
mile  in  length. 

"The  spirit  of  the  herd  is  killed,"  said  he; 
"the  cattle  can  barely  hold  their  heads  off  the 
ground.  Why,  during  that  Christmas  drift, 
they  fought  and  gored  each  other  at  every 
chance,  but  to-day  they  act  like  lost  sheep. 
They  are  half  dead  on  their  feet." 

The  herd  had  been  adrift  several  hours, 
and  as  sustenance  for  man  and  horse  was 
important,  Dell  was  impatient  to  reach  the 
Beaver  before  nightfall." 

"  If  the  storm  has  held  true  since  it  struck," 
said  he,  "  I  '11  cut  it  quartering  from  here  to 
headquarters.  That  good  old  corn  that  Dog- 
toe  has  been  eating  all  winter  has  put  the  iron 
into  his  blood,  until  he  just  bows  his  neck  and 
snorts  defiance  against  this  wind  and  snow." 

"  Now,  don't  be  too  sure,"  cautioned  Joel. 


192  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"You  can't  see  one  hundred  yards  in  this 
storm,  and  if  you  get  bewildered,  all  country 
looks  alike.  Trust  your  horse  in  any  event, 
and  if  you  strike  above  or  below  headquar- 
ters, if  you  keep  your  head  on  your  shoulders 
you  ought  to  recognize  the  creek.  Give  your 
horse  free  rein  and  he  '11  take  you  straight  to 
the  stable  door.  Bring  half  a  sack  of  corn, 
some  bread  and  meat,  the  tent-fly  and  blankets. 
Start  an  hour  before  daybreak,  and  you  '11  find 
me  in  the  lead  of  the  herd." 

The  brothers  parted  for  the  night.  So  long 
as  he  could  ride  in  their  lead,  the  necessity 
of  holding  the  cattle  was  the  lodestar  that  sus- 
tained Joel  Wells  during  those  lonely  hours. 
There  was  always  the  hope  that  the  storm 
would  abate,  when  the  tired  cattle  would 
gladly  halt  and  bed  down,  which  prc^mise 
lightened  the  passing  time.  The  work^-was 
easy  to  boy  and  horse;  to  retard  the  march x)f 
the  leaders,  that  the  rear  might  easily  follow, 
was  the  task  of  the  night  or  until  relieved. 

On  the  other  hand.  Dell's  self-reliance 
lacked  caution.  Secure  in  his  ability  to  ride  a 
course,  day  or  night,  fair  or  foul  weather,  he 
had  barely  reached  the  southern  slope  of  the 
Beaver  when  darkness  fell.  The  horse  was 
easily  quartering  the  storm,  but  the  pelting 
snow  in  the  boy's  face  led  him  to  rein  his  mount 


A   WINTER  DRIFT  193 

from  a  true  course,  with  the  result  that  several 
miles  was  ridden  without  reaching  any  recog- 
nizable landmark.  A  ravine  or  dry  wash  was 
finally  encountered,  when  Dell  dismounted. 
As  a  matter  of  precaution,  he  carried  matches, 
and  on  striking  one,  confusion  assumed  the 
reign  over  all  caution  and  advice.  He  was 
lost,  but  contentious  to  the  last  ditch.  Sev- 
eral times  he  remounted  and  allowed  his  horse 
free  rein,  but  each  time  Dog-toe  turned  into 
the  eye  of  the  storm,  then  the  true  course 
home,  and  was  halted.  Reason  was  abandoned 
and  disorder  reigned.  An  hour  was  lost,  when 
the  confident  boy  mounted  his  horse  and  took 
up  his  former  course,  almost  crossing  the  line 
of  storm  on  a  right  angle.  A  thousand  visi- 
ble forms,  creatures  of  the  night  and  storm, 
took  .shape  in  the  bewildered  mind  of  Dell 
Weils,  and  after  dismounting  and  mounting 
unknown  times,  he  floundered  across  Beaver 
Creek  fully  three  miles  below  headquarters. 

The  hour  was  unknown.  Still  confused, 
Dell  finally  appealed  to  his  horse,  and  within 
a  few  minutes  Dog-toe  was  in  a  road  and 
champing  the  bits  against  restraint.  The  boy 
dismounted,  and  a  burning  match  revealed 
the  outlines  of  a  road  under  the  soft  snow. 
The  horse  was  given  rein  again  and  took  the 
road  like  a  hound,  finally  sweeping  under  a 


194  WELLS   BROTHERS 

tree,  when  another  halt  was  made.  It  was  the 
hackberry  at  the  mouth  of  the  cove,  its  broken 
twigs  bespoke  a  fire  which  Dell  had  built, 
and  yet  the  mute  witness  tree  and  impatient 
horse  were  doubted.  And  not  until  Dog-toe 
halted  at  the  stable  door  was  the  boy  con- 
vinced of  his  error. 

"  Dog-toe,"  said  Dell,  as  he  swung  out  of 
the  saddle,  "you  forgot  more  than  I  ever 
knew.  You  told  me  that  I  was  wrong,  and  you 
pled  with  me  like  a  brother,  and  I  would  n't 
listen  to  you.  I  wonder  if  he  '11  forgive  me  ?  " 
meditated  Dell,  as  he  opened  the  stable  door. 

The  horse  hurriedly  entered  and  nickered 
for  his  feed.  "  Yes,  you  shall  have  an  extra 
ration  of  corn,"  answered  his  rider.  "And  if 
you  '11  just  forgive  me  this  once,  the  lesson 
you  taught  me  to-night  will  never  be  for- 
gotten." 

It  proved  to  be  early  in  the  evening —  only 
eight  o'clock.  Even  though  the  lesson  was 
taught  by  a  dumb  animal,  it  was  worth  its 
cost.  Before  offering  to  sleep,  Dell  collected 
all  the  articles  that  were  to  make  up  the  pack, 
foddered  the  horses,  set  the  alarm  forward  an 
hour,  and  sought  his  blankets  for  a  short  rest. 
Several  times  the  howling  of  the  wind  awoke 
him,  and  unable  to  sleep  out  the  night,  he 
arose  and  built  a  fire.  The  necessity  of  a  pack 


A   WINTER   DRIFT  195 

saddle  robbed  him  of  his  own,  and,  substitut- 
ing a  blanket,  at  the  appointed  hour  before 
dawn  he  started,  with  three  days'  rations  for 
man  and  horse.  The  snow  had  ceased  falling, 
but  a  raw  March  wind  blew  from  the  north- 
west, and  taking  his  course  with  it,  he  reached 
the  divide  at  daybreak.  A  struggling  sun  gave 
him  a  bearing  from  time  to  time,  the  sand 
dunes  were  sighted,  and  angling  across  the 
course  of  the  wind,  the  trail  of  the  herd  was 
picked  up  in  the  mushy  snow.  A  bull  was 
overtaken,  resting  comfortably  in  a  buffalo 
wallow;  three  others  were  passed,  feeding 
with  the  wind,  and  finally  the  sun  burst  forth, 
revealing  the  brakes  of  the  Prairie  Dog. 

Where  the  cattle  had  drifted  barely  two 
miles  an  hour,  sustenance  was  following  at  a 
five-mile  gait.  The  trail  freshened  in  the  snow, 
narrowed  and  broadened,  and  near  the  middle 
of  the  forenoon  the  scattered  herd  was  sighted. 
The  long  yell  of  warning  was  answered  only 
by  a  tiny  smoke-cloud,  hanging  low  over  the 
creek  bed,  and  before  Joel  was  aware  of  his 
presence,  Dell  rode  up  to  the  very  bank  under 
which  the  fire  was  burning. 

"How  do  you  like  an  all-night  drift?" 
shouted  Dell.  "  How  do  snowballs  taste  for 
breakfast?" 

"  Come  under  the  cliff  and  unpack,"  soberly 


196  WELLS   BROTHERS 

replied  Joel.  "I  hope  this  is  the  last  lesson 
in  winter  herding;  I  fail  to  see  any  romance 
in  it." 

The  horses  were  unsaddled  and  fed.  "Give 
an  account  of  yourself,"  urged  Dell,  as  the 
brothers  returned  to  the  fire.  "How  did  you 
make  out  during  the  night?" 

"  I  just  humped  my  back  like  the  other  cat- 
tle and  took  my  medicine,"  replied  Joel.  "An 
Indian  dances  to  keep  warm,  and  I  sang.  You 
have  no  idea  how  good  company  cattle  are. 
One  big  steer  laid  his  ear  in  Rowdy's  flank  to 
warm  it.  I  took  him  by  the  horn  any  number 
of  times  and  woke  him  up;  he  was  just  stag- 
gering along  asleep.  I  talked  to  all  the  lead 
cattle,  named  them  after  boys  we  knew  at 
school,  and  sometimes  they  would  look  up 
when  I  called  to  them.  And  the  queerest  thing 
happened!  You  remember  old  Redman,  our 
teacher,  back  in  Ohio.  Well,  I  saw  him  last 
night.  There  was  a  black  two-year-old  steer 
among  the  lead  cattle,  and  every  time  I  looked 
at  him,  I  saw  old  Redman,  with  his  humped 
shoulder,  his  pug  nose,  and  his  half-shut  eyes. 
It  took  the  storm,  the  sullen  drift,  to  put  that 
expression  in  the  black  steer's  face,  but  it  was 
old  Redman.  During  the  two  terms  of  school 
that  he  taught,  he  licked  me  a  score  of  times, 
but  I  dared  him  to  come  out  of  that  black 


A   WINTER   DRIFT  197 

steer's  face  and  try  it  again.  He  must  have 
heard  me,  for  the  little  black  steer  dropped 
back  and  never  came  to  the  lead  again." 

"And  had  you  any  idea  where  you  were?  " 
inquired  Dell,  prompted  by  his  own  experi- 
ence. 

"  I  was  right  at  home  in  the  lead  of  the  herd. 
The  tepee  might  get  lost,  but  I  could  n't.  I 
knew  we  must  strike  the  Prairie  Dog,  and 
the  cattle  were  within  half  a  mile  of  it  when 
day  broke.  Once  I  got  my  bearings.  Rowdy 
and  I  turned  on  the  herd  and  checked  the 
drift." 

A  late  breakfast  fortified  the  boys  for  the 
day.  It  was  fully  twenty-five  miles  back  to 
the  Beaver,  but  with  the  cattle  weakened,  the 
horses  worn,  it  was  decided  to  rest  a  day  be- 
fore starting  on  the  return.  During  the  after- 
noon, Dell  went  back  and  threw  in  the  strag- 
glers, and  towards  evening  all  the  cattle  were 
put  under  loose  herd  and  pointed  north.  The 
sun  had  stripped  the  snow,  and  a  comfortable 
camp  was  made  under  the  cliff.  Wood  was 
scarce  on  the  Prairie  Dog,  but  the  dry,  rank 
stalks  of  the  wild  sunflower  made  a  good  sub- 
stitute for  fuel,  and  night  settled  over  human 
and  animal  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  every 
comfort. 

It  was  a  two-days'  trip  returning.  To  Rowdy 


198  WELLS   BROTHERS 

fell  the  duty  of  pack  horse.  He  had  led  the 
outward  march,  and  was  entitled  to  an  easy 
berth  on  retreat.  The  tarpaulin  was  folded 
the  full  length  of  the  horse's  body  girth,  both 
saddles  being  required  elsewhere,  and  the 
corn  and  blankets  laid  within  the  pack  and  all 
lashed  securely.  The  commissary  supplies 
being  light,  saddle  pockets  and  cantle  strings 
were  found  sufficient  for  their  transportation. 

The  start  was  made  at  sunrise.  The  cattle 
had  grazed  out  several  miles  the  evening  be- 
fore, and  in  their  weakened  condition  it  would 
require  nursing  to  reach  the  Beaver.  A  mile 
an  hour  was  the  pace,  nothing  like  a  compact 
herd  or  driving  was  permissible,  and  the  cattle 
were  allowed  to  feed  or  rest  at  their  will. 
Rowdy  grazed  along  the  flank,  the  boys  walked 
as  a  relief,  and  near  evening  or  on  sighting 
the  dunes,  Dell  took  the  pack  horse  and  rode 
for  their  shelter,  to  locate  a  night  camp.  The 
herd  never  swerved  from  its  course,  and  after 
sunset  Joel  rounded  the  cattle  into  compact 
form  and  bedded  them  down  for  the  night. 
A  beacon  fire  of  plum  brush  led  him  to  the 
chosen  camp,  in  the  sand  hills,  where  supper 
awaited  the  brothers. 

"Is  n't  it  lucky,"  said  Dell,  as  he  snuggled 
under  the  blankets,  "  that  the  wolves  are  gone. 
Suppose  they  were  here  yet,  and  we  had  to 


A   WINTER   DRIFT  199 

build  fires,  or  stand  guard  over  the  herd  to- 
night, like  trail  men,  could  we  do  it  ?" 

"  Certainly.  We  met  the  wolves  before  and 
held  the  cattle.  You  seem  to  forget  that  we  're 
not  entitled  to  sleep  any  in  the  winter.  Be 
grateful.  Thank  the  wolf  and  go  to  sleep." 

"  See  how  the  dunes  loom  up  in  the  light 
of  this  camp-fire.  I  wish  Mr.  Paul  could 
see  it." 

"  More  than  likely  he  has  camped  in  the 
dunes  and  enjoyed  many  rousing  fires." 

Dell's  next  remark  was  unanswered.  The 
stars  twinkled  overhead,  the  sandman  was 
abroad,  curfew  sounded  through  the  dunes, 
and  all  was  quiet. 

"  Here 's  where  we  burn  the  wagon,"  said 
Joel,  as  he  aroused  Dell  at  daybreak.  "  It 's 
one  of  Mr.  Quince's  remarks,  but  this  is  the 
first  time  we've  had  a  chance  to  use  it.  I'll 
divide  the  corn  into  three  good  feeds,  and 
we  '11  make  it  in  home  for  supper.  Let 's  have 
the  whole  hummingbird  for  breakfast,  so  that 
when  we  ride  out  of  this  camp,  all  worth  sav- 
ing will  be  the  coffee  pot  and  frying  pan.  So 
long  as  we  hold  the  cattle,  who  cares  for  ex- 
pense." 

The  herd  was  in  hand  as  it  left  the  bed 
ground.  An  ideal  spring  day  lent  its  aid  to  the 
snailing  cattle.  By  the  middle  of  the  afternoon 


200  WELLS   BROTHERS 

the  watershed  had  been  crossed,  and  the  grad- 
ual slope  down  to  the  Beaver  was  begun. 
Rowdy  forged  to  the  lead,  the  flanks  turned 
in,  the  rear  pushed  forward,  and  the  home- 
hunger  of  the  herd  found  expression  in  loud 
and  continued  lowing. 

"  I  must  have  been  mistaken  about  the 
spirit  of  this  herd  being  killed,"  observed  Dell. 
"  When  I  left  you  the  other  day,  to  go  after  a 
pack  horse,  these  cattle  looked  dead  on  their 
feet.  I  felt  sure  that  we  would  lose  a  hun- 
dred head,  and  we  have  n't  lost  a  hoof." 

"  We  may  have  a  lot  to  learn  yet  about 
cattle,"  admitted  Joel.  "  I  fully  expected  to  see 
our  back  track  strung  with  dead  animals." 

The  origin  of  the  herd,  with  its  deeps  and 
moods,  is  unknown  and  unwritten.  The  do- 
mesticity of  cattle  is  dateless.  As  to  when  the 
ox  first  knew  his  master's  crib,  history  and 
tradition  are  dumb.  Little  wonder  that  Joel 
and  Dell  Wells,  with  less  than  a  year's  expe- 
rience, failed  to  fully  understand  their  herd. 
An  incident,  similar  to  the  one  which  pro- 
voked the  observation  of  the  brothers,  may 
explain  those  placid  depths,  the  deep  tenacity 
and  latent  power  of  the  herd. 

After  delivering  its  cargo  at  an  army  post, 
an  extensive  freighting  outfit  was  returning  to 
the  supply  point.  Twelve  hundred  oxen  were 


A  WINTER  DRIFT  20I 

employed.  On  the  outward  trip,  muddy  roads 
were  encountered,  the  wagons  were  loaded 
beyond  the  strength  of  the  teams,  and  the  oxen 
had  arrived  at  the  fort  exhausted,  spiritless,  and 
faint  to  falling  under  their  yokes.  Many  oxen 
had  been  abandoned  as  useless  within  one 
hundred  miles  of  the  post,  thus  doubling  the 
work  on  the  others.  On  the  return  trip,  these 
scattered  oxen,  the  lame  and  halt,  were  gath- 
ered to  the  number  of  several  hundred,  and 
were  being  driven  along  at  the  rear  of  the 
wagon  train.  Each  day  added  to  their  num- 
bers, until  one  fourth  of  all  the  oxen  were 
being  driven  loose  at  the  rear  of  the  caravan. 
One  day  a  boy  blindfolded  a  cripple  ox,  which 
took  fright  and  charged  among  his  fellows, 
bellowing  with  fear.  It  was  tinder  to  powder! 
The  loose  oxen  broke  from  the  herders,  tore 
past  the  column  of  wagons,  frenzied  in  voice 
and  action.  The  drivers  lost  control  of  their 
teams,  bedlam  reigned,  and  the  entire  wagon 
train  joined  in  the  general  stampede.  Wagons 
were  overturned  and  reduced  to  kindling  in 
a  moment  of  the  wildest  panic.  The  drivers 
were  glad  to  escape  with  their  lives  and  were 
left  at  the  rear.  A  cloud  of  dust  merely  marked 
the  direction  which  the  oxen  had  taken.  The 
teams,  six  to  eight  yoke  each,  wrenched  their 
chains,  broke  the  bows,  and  joined  in  the  on- 


202  WELLS   BROTHERS 

rush.  Many  of  the  oxen,  still  under  yoke, 
were  found  the  next  day  fifteen  miles  distant 
from  the  scene  of  the  incident,  and  unap- 
proachable except  on  horseback.  For  a  month 
previous  to  this  demonstration  of  the  latent 
power  of  cattle,  the  humane  drivers  of  the 
wagon  train  were  constantly  lamenting  that 
the  spirit  of  their  teams  was  killed. 

When  within  a  mile  of  the  Beaver,  the  herd 
was  turned  westward  and  given  its  freedom. 
While  drifting  down  the  slope.  Rowdy  grad- 
ually crept  far  to  the  lead,  and  as  the  brothers 
left  the  cattle  and  bore  off  homeward,  the 
horse  took  up  a  gentle  trot,  maintaining  his 
lead  until  the  stable  was  reached. 

"  Look  at  the  dear  old  rascal,"  said  Joel, 
beaming  with  pride.  "  That  horse  knows  more 
than  some  folks." 

"Yes,  and  if  Dog-toe  could  talk,"  admitted 
Dell,  stroking  his  horse's  neck,  "he  could  tell 
a  good  joke  on  me.  I  may  tell  it  myself  some 
day  —  some  time  when  I  want  to  feel  per- 
fectly ashamed  of  myself." 


CHAPTER   XIII 

A    WELCOME    GUEST 

THE  heralds  of  spring  bespoke  its  early 
approach.  April  was  ushered  in  to 
the  songs  of  birds,  the  greening  val- 
ley, and  the  pollen  on  the  willow.  The  frost 
arose,  the  earth  mellowed  underfoot,  and  the 
creek  purled  and  sang  as  it  hastened  along. 
The  cattle  played,  calves  were  born,  while  the 
horses,  in  shedding  their  winter  coats,  matted 
the  saddle  blankets  and  threw  off  great  tufts 
of  hair  where  they  rolled  on  the  ground. 

The  marketing  of  the  peltry  fell  to  Joel. 
Dell  met  the  wagon  returning  far  out  on  the 
trail.  "The  fur  market's  booming,"  shouted 
Joel,  on  coming  within  speaking  distance. 
*' We'll  not  know  the  price  for  a  few  weeks. 
The  station  agent  was  only  willing  to  ship 
them.  The  storekeeper  was  anxious  to  do  the 
same,  and  advanced  me  a  hundred  dollars  on 
the  shipment.  Wolf  skins,  prime,  are  quoted 
from  two  to  two  dollars  and  a  half.  And  I 
have  a  letter  from  Forrest.  The  long  winter's 
over!  You  can  shout!   G' long,  mules!  " 

During  the  evening,  Dell  read  Forrest's  let- 


204  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ter  again  and  again.  "  Keep  busy  until  the 
herds  arrive,"  it  read.  "  Enlarge  your  water 
supply  and  plan  to  acquire  more  cattle." 

"  That 's  our  programme,"  said  Joel.  "  We  '11 
put  in  two  dams  between  here  and  the  trail. 
Mr.  Qiiince  has  never  advised  us  wrong,  and 
he  '11  explain  things  when  he  comes.  Once  a 
week  will  be  often  enough  to  ride  around  the 
cattle." 

An  air  of  activity  was  at  once  noticeable 
around  headquarters.  Thegarden  wasploughed 
and  planting  begun.  The  fence  was  repaired 
around  the  corn-field,  the  beaver  dams  were 
strengthened,  and  sites  for  two  other  reservoirs 
were  selected.  The  flow  of  the  creek  was  am- 
ple to  fill  large  tanks,  and  if  the  water  could 
be  conserved  for  use  during  the  dry  summer 
months,  the  cattle-carrying  capacity  of  the 
ranch  could  be  greatly  enlarged.  The  old 
beaver  dams  around  headquarters  had  with- 
stood every  drouth,  owing  to  the  shade  of  the 
willows  overhead,  the  roots  of  which  matted 
and  held  the  banks  intact.  Wagon  loads  of 
willow  slips  were  accordingly  cut  for  the  new 
dams  and  the  work  began  in  earnest. 

"We  '11  take  the  tent  and  camp  at  the  lower 
site,"  announced  Joel.  "  It  would  waste  too 
much  time  to  go  and  come.  When  we  build 
the  upper  one,  we  can  work  from  home." 


A  WELCOME   GUEST  205 

The  two  tanks  were  finished  within  a  month. 
They  were  built  several  miles  apart,  where 
there  was  little  or  no  fall  in  the  creek,  merely 
to  hold  still  water  in  long,  deep  pools.  The 
willow  cuttings  were  planted  along  the  bor- 
ders and  around  the  dams,  the  ends  of  which 
were  riprapped  with  stone,  and  a  spillway  cut 
to  accommodate  any  overflow  during  freshets. 

The  dams  were  finished  none  too  soon,  as 
a  dry  spring  followed,  and  the  reservoirs  had 
barely  filled  when  the  creek  ceased  flowing. 
The  unusual  winter  snowfall  had  left  a  sea- 
son's moisture  in  the  ground,  and  the  grass 
came  in  abundance,  matting  slope  and  valley, 
while  the  garden  grew  like  a  rank  weed.  The 
corn  crop  of  the  year  before  had  repaid  well 
in  forage,  and  was  again  planted.  In  the  face 
of  another  drouthy  summer,  the  brothers 
sowed  as  if  they  fully  expected  to  reap. 
"  Keep  busy "  was  the  slogan  of  the  spring- 
time. 

The  month  of  June  arrived  without  a  sign 
of  life  on  the  trail.  Nearly  one  hundred  calves 
were  born  to  the  herd  on  the  Beaver,  the  peltry 
had  commanded  the  highest  quotation,  and 
Wells  Brothers  swaggered  in  their  saddles. 
But  still  the  herds  failed  to  come. 

"  Let 's  put  up  the  tent,"  suggested  Dell, 
"just  as  if  we  were  expecting  company.  Mr. 


2o6  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Paul  or  Mr.  Quince  will  surely  ride  in  some 
of  these  evenings.  Either  one  will  reach  here 
a  full  day  in  the  lead  of  his  herd.  Let 's  make 
out  that  we  're  looking  for  them." 

Dell's  suggestion  was  acted  on.  A  week 
passed  and  not  a  trail  man  appeared.  "  There  's 
something  wrong,"  said  Joel,  at  the  end  of 
the  second  week.  "  The  Lovell  herds  go 
through,  and  there  's  sixteen  of  them  on  the 
trail." 

"  They  're  waterbound,"  said  Dell,  jumping 
at  a  conclusion. 

"Waterbound,  your  foot!  The  men  and 
horses  and  cattle  can  all  swim.  Don't  you 
remember  Mr.  Quince  telling  about  rafting 
his  wagon  across  swimming  rivers  ?  Water- 
bound,  your  grandmother!  High  water  is  no- 
thing to  those  trail  men." 

Dell  was  silenced.  The  middle  of  June 
came  and  the  herds  had  not  appeared.  The 
brothers  were  beginning  to  get  uneasy  for 
fear  of  bad  news,  when  near  dark  one  evening 
a  buckboard  drove  up.  Its  rumbling  approach 
hurried  the  boys  outside  the  tent,  when  with- 
out a  word  of  hail.  Quince  Forrest  sprang 
from  the  vehicle,  grasped  Dell,  and  the  two 
rolled  over  and  over  on  the  grass. 

"  I  just  wanted  to  roll  him  in  the  dirt  to 
make   him  grow,"    explained  Forrest  to  an 


A  WELCOME  GUEST  207 

elderly  man  who  accompanied  him.  "  These 
are  my  boys.  Look  at  that  red-headed  rascal 
—  fat  as  a  calf  with  two  mothers.  Boys,  shake 
hands  with  Mr.  Lovell." 

The  drover  alighted  and  greeted  the  boys 
with  fatherly  kindness.  He  was  a  frail  man, 
of  medium  height,  nearly  sixty  years  of  age, 
with  an  energy  that  pulsed  in  every  word  and 
action.  There  was  a  careworn  expression  in 
his  face,  while  an  intensity  of  purpose  blazed 
from  hungry,  deep-set  eyes  which  swept 
every  detail  of  the  scene  at  a  glance.  That  he 
was  worried  to  the  point  of  exhaustion  was 
evident  the  moment  that  compliments  were 
exchanged. 

"  Show  me  your  water  supply,"  said  he  to 
Joel;  "  old  beaver  ponds,  if  I  am  correctly  in- 
formed. We  must  move  fifty  thousand  cattle 
from  Dodge  to  the  Platte  River  within  the 
next  fortnight.  One  of  the  worst  drouths  in 
the  history  of  the  trail  confronts  us,  and  if  you 
can  water  my  cattle  between  the  Prairie  Dog 
and  the  Republican  River,  you  can  name  your 
own  price." 

"  Let 's  drive  around,"  said  Forrest,  step- 
ping into  the  buckboard,  "before  it  gets  too 
dark.  Come  on,  boys,  and  show  Mr.  Lovell 
the  water." 

All  four   boarded   the    vehicle,    the    boys 


2o8  WELLS   BROTHERS 

standing  up  behind  the  single  seat,  and  drove 
away.  In  a  mile's  meanderings  of  the  creek 
were  five  beaver  ponds,  over  which  in  many 
places  the  willows  interlapped.  The  pools 
stood  bank  full,  and  after  sounding  them,  the 
quartette  turned  homeward,  satisfied  of  the 
abundant  water  supply. 

"  There 's  water  and  to  spare  for  the  entire 
drive,"  said  Forrest  to  his  employer.  ''  It  is  n't 
the  amount  drank,  it's  the  absorption  of  the 
sun  that  gets  away  with  water.  Those  willows 
will  protect  the  pools  until  the  cows  come 
home.  I  felt  sure  of  the  Beaver." 

"  Now,  if  we  can  arrange  to  water  my  herds 
here—" 

"  That 's  all  arranged,"  replied  Forrest. 
"  I  'm  a  silent  partner  in  this  ranch.  Anything 
that  Wells  Brothers  owns  is  yours  for  the 
asking.  Am  I  right,  boys  ?  " 

"  If  Mr.  Lovell  needs  the  water,  he  is  wel- 
come to  it,"  modestly  replied  Joel. 

"That's  my  partner  talking,"  said  Forrest; 
"that  was  old  man  Joel  Wells  that  just  spoke. 
He  's  the  senior  member  of  the  firm.  Oh, 
these  boys  of  mine  are  cowmen  from  who 
laid  the  rail.  They  're  not  out  to  rob  a  neigh- 
bor. Once  you  hear  from  the  head  of  the 
Stinking  Water,  you  can  order  the  herds  to 
pull  out  for  the  Platte." 


A  WELCOME  GUEST  209 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Lovell,  somewhat  per- 
plexed. "Yes,  but  let's  get  the  water  on  the 
Beaver  clear  first.  What  does  this  mean?  I 
offer  a  man  his  price  to  water  my  cattle,  and 
he  answers  me  that  I  'm  welcome  to  it  for 
nothing.  I  'm  suspicious  of  the  Greeks  when 
they  come  bearing  gifts.  Are  you  three  plot- 
ting against  me  ?  " 

"  That 's  it,"  replied  Forrest.  "  You  caught 
the  gleam  of  my  axe  all  right.  In  the  worry  of 
this  drouth,  you  've  overlooked  the  fact  that 
you  have  five  horses  on  this  ranch.  They 
were  left  here  last  fall,  expecting  to  pick  them 
up  this  spring.  Two  of  them  were  cripples 
and  three  were  good  cow  horses.  Now,  these 
boys  of  mine  are  just  branching  out  into  cat- 
tle, and  they  don't  need  money,  but  a  few 
good  horses  are  better  than  gold.  That's 
about  the  plot.  What  would  you  say  was  the 
right  thing  to  do  ?  " 

Mr.  Lovell  turned  to  the  boys.  "  The  five 
horses  are  yours.  But  I  'm  still  in  your  debt. 
Is  there  anything  else  that  you  need?" 

The  question  was  repeated  to  Forrest.  "  By 
the  time  the  herds  reach  here,"  said  he,  mildly 
observant,  "there  will  be  quite  a  number  of 
tender-footed  and  fagged  cattle.  They  could 
never  make  it  through  without  rest,  but  by 
dropping  them  here,  they  would  have  a  fight- 


210  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ing  chance  to  recuperate  before  winter.  There 
won't  be  a  cent  in  an  abandoned  steer  for  you, 
but  these  boys  —  " 

"Trim  the  herds  here  on  the  Beaver,"  in- 
terrupted Mr.  Lovell.  "I  '11  give  all  my  fore- 
men orders  to  that  effect.  Cripples  are  worth- 
less to  me,  but  good  as  gold  to  these  boys. 
What  else?" 

"  Oh,  just  wish  the  boys  good  luck,  and  if 
it  ever  so  happens,  speak  a  good  word  for  the 
Wells  Brothers.  I  found  them  white,  and  I 
think  you  '11  find  them  on  the  square." 

"  Well,  this  is  a  happy  termination,"  said 
Mr.  Lovell,  as  he  alighted  at  the  tent.  "Our 
water  expense  between  Dodge  and  Ogalalla 
will  not  exceed  five  thousand  dollars.  It  cost 
me  double  that  getting  out  of  Texas." 

Secure  on  the  Beaver,  the  brothers  were 
unaware  of  the  outside  drouth,  which  ex- 
plained the  failure  of  the  herds  to  appear  on 
the  trail  as  in  other  years.  It  meant  the  de- 
lay of  a  fortnight,  and  the  concentration  of 
a  year's  drive  into  a  more  limited  space  of 
time.  Unconscious  of  its  value,  the  boys 
awoke  to  the  fact  that  they  controlled  the 
only  water  between  the  Prairie  Dog  and  the 
Republican  River  —  sixty  miles  of  the  plain. 
Many  of  the  herds  were  under  contract  and 
bond  to  cattle  companies,  individuals,  army 


A  WELCOME  GUEST  211 

posts,  and  Indian  agencies,  and  no  excuse 
would  be  accepted  for  any  failure  to  deliver. 
The  drouth  might  prove  an  ill-wind  to  some, 
but  the  Beaver  valley  was  not  only  exempt 
but  could  extend  relief. 

After  supper,  hosts  and  guests  adjourned 
to  the  tent.  Forrest  had  unearthed  the  winter 
struggle  of  his  protdges,  and  gloating  over  the 
manner  in  which  the  boys  had  met  and  over- 
come the  unforeseen,  he  assumed  an  observant 
attitude  in  addressing  his  employer. 

"  You  must  be  working  a  sorry  outfit  up 
on  the  Little  Missouri,"  said  he,  "  to  lose  ten 
per  cent  of  straight  steer  cattle.  My  boys, 
here  on  the  Beaver,  report  a  measly  loss  of 
twelve  head,  out  of  over  five  hundred  cattle. 
And  you  must  recollect  that  these  were  rag- 
tag and  bob-tail,  the  flotsam  of  a  hundred 
herds,  forty  per  cent  cripples,  walking  on 
crutches.  Think  of  it  !  Two  per  cent  loss, 
under  herd,  a  sleet  over  the  range  for  six 
weeks,  against  your  ten  per  cent  kill  on  an 
open  range.  You  must  have  a  slatterly,  sore- 
thumbed  lot  of  men  on  your  beef  ranch." 

Mr.  Lovell  was  discouraged  over  the  out- 
look of  his  cattle  interests.  "  That  was  a  first 
report  that  you  are  quoting  from,"  said  he  to 
Forrest.  "  It  was  more  prophecy  than  state- 
ment. We  must  make  allowances  for  young 


211  WELLS   BROTHERS 

men.  There  is  quite  a  difference  between  get- 
ting scared  and  being  hurt.  My  beef  outfit 
has  orders  to  go  three  hundred  miles  south 
of  our  range  and  cover  all  round-ups  north- 
ward. It  was  a  severe  winter,  and  the  drift 
was  heavy,  but  I  'm  not  worrying  any  about 
that  sore-fingered  outfit.  Promptly  meeting 
government  contracts  is  our  work  to-day.  My 
cattle  are  two  weeks  behind  time,  and  the  beef 
herds  must  leave  Dodge  to-morrow.  Help 
me  figure  it  out:  Can  you  put  me  on  the 
railroad  by  noon.?"  he  concluded,  turning  to 
Joel. 

"  Easily,  or  I  can  carry  a  message  to-night." 

"  There  's  your  programme,"  said  Forrest, 
interceding.  "One  of  these  boys  can  take  you 
to  Grinnell  in  time  for  the  eastbound  train. 
Wire  your  beef  herds  to  pull  out  for  the 
Platte.  You  can  trust  the  water  to  improve 
from  here  north." 

"  And  you?  "  inquired  the  drover,  address- 
ing his  foreman. 

"  I  '11  take  the  buckboard  and  go  north  until 
I  meet  Paul.  That  will  cover  the  last  link  in 
the  trail.  We'll  know  our  water  then,  and 
time  our  drives  to  help  the  cattle.  It's  as  clear 
as  mud." 

"Just  about,"  dubiously  answered  Mr. 
Lovell.    "Unless    I  can  get  an  extension  of 


A  WELCOME   GUEST  213 

time  on  my  beef  contracts,  the  penalty  under 
my  bonds  will  amount  to  a  fortune." 

"The  army  is  just  as  well  aware  of  this 
drouth  as  you  are,"  said  Forrest,  "  and  the 
War  Department  will  make  allowances.  The 
government  don't  expect  the  impossible." 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  old  drover  with  feel- 
ing. "  Yes,  but  it  exacts  a  bond,  and  stipulates 
the  daily  forfeiture,  and  if  any  one  walks  the 
plank,  it's  not  your  dear  old  Uncle  Samuel. 
And  it  matters  not  how  much  sleep  I  lose,  red 
tape  never  worries." 

The  boys  made  a  movement  as  if  to  with- 
draw, and  Forrest  arose.  "  The  programme 
for  to-morrow,  then,  is  understood,"  said  the 
latter.  "The  horses  will  be  ready  at  day- 
break." 

It  was  midnight  when  the  trio  sought  their 
blankets.  On  the  part  of  the  brothers,  there 
was  a  constant  reference  to  their  guest,  the 
drover,  and  a  desire,  if  in  their  power,  to  aid 
him  in  every  way. 

"  I  wanted  you  boys  to  meet  and  get  ac- 
quainted with  Mr.  Lovell,"  said  Forrest,  as 
all  were  dozing  off  to  sleep.  "There  is  a  cow- 
man in  a  thousand,  and  his  word  carries 
weight  in  cattle  matters.  He  's  rather  deep 
water,  unless  you  cross  or  surprise  him.  I 
nagged  him  about  the  men  on  his  beef  ranch. 


214  WELLS   BROTHERS 

He  knew  the  cattle  would  n't  winter  kill  when 
they  could  drift,  and  the  round-up  will  catch 
every  living  hoof.  He  was  too  foxy  to  borrow 
any  trouble  there,  and  this  long  yell  about  the 
drouth  interfering  with  delivery  dates  keeps 
the  trail  outfits  against  the  bits.  Admitting 
his  figures,  the  water  expense  won't  be  a 
drop  in  the  bucket.  It  affords  good  worrying 
and  that  keeps  the  old  man  in  fighting  form. 
I'm  glad  he  came  along;  treat  him  fair  and 
square,  and  his  friendship  means  something 
to  you,  boys." 


CHAPTER   XIV 

AN    ILL    WIND 

THE  start  to  the  station  was  made  at 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Joel  ac- 
companied the  drover,  the  two  best 
horses  being  under  saddle,  easily  capable  of 
a  road  gait  that  would  reach  the  railroad  dur- 
ing the  early  forenoon.  The  direct  course  lay 
across  country,  and  once  the  sun  flooded  the 
Beaver  valley,  the  cowman  swung  around  in 
the  saddle  and  his  practical  eye  swept  the 
range.  On  sighting  Hackberry  Grove,  the 
broken  country  beyond,  including  the  sand 
hills,  he  turned  to  his  guide. 

"My  boy,"  said  Mr.  Lovell,  "you  brothers 
have  a  great  future  before  you.  This  is  an 
ideal  cattle  range.  The  very  grass  under  our 
horses'  feet  carries  untold  wealth.  But  you 
lack  cattle.  You  have  the  range  here  for 
thousands  where  you  are  running  hundreds. 
Buy  young  steers;  pay  any  price;  but  get 
more  cattle.  The  growth  of  young  steers  jus- 
tifies any  outlay.  Come  down  to  Dodge  about 
the  first  of  August.  This  drouth  is  liable  to 


2i6  WELLS   BROTHERS 

throw  some  bargains  on  that  market.  Be  sure 
and  come.  I'll  keep  an  eye  open  in  your  in- 
terest on  any  cattle  for  sale." 

The  old  drover's  words  bewildered  Joel. 
The  ways  and  means  were  not  entirely  clear, 
but  the  confidence  of  the  man  in  the  future 
of  the  brothers  was  gratifying.  Meanwhile,  at 
the  little  ranch  the  team  stood  in  waiting,  and 
before  the  horseman  had  passed  out  of  sight 
to  the  south  the  buckboard  started  on  its 
northern  errand.  Dell  accompanied  it,  pro- 
testing against  his  absence  from  home,  but 
Forrest  brushed  aside  every  objection. 

"  Come  on,  come  on,"  said  he  to  Dell;  "you 
have  no  saddle,  and  we  may  be  back  to-night. 
We  're  liable  to  meet  Paul  on  the  Republican. 
Turn  your  ranch  loose  and  let  it  run  itself. 
Come  on;  we  ain't  halfway  through  our  fig- 
uring." 

Joel  returned  after  dark.  Priest  had  left 
Ogalalla,  to  the  north,  the  same  day  that  For- 
rest and  his  employer  started  up  the  trail  from 
the  south,  and  at  the  expected  point  the  two 
foremen  met.  The  report  showed  water  in 
abundance  from  the  Republican  River  north- 
ward, confirming  Forrest's  assertion  to  his 
employer,  and  completing  the  chain  of  waters 
between  Dodge  and  Ogalalla.  Priest  returned 
with  the  buckboard,  which  reached  the  Beaver 


AN   ILL  WIND  217 

after  midnight,  and  aroused  Joel  out  of  heavy 
sleep. 

"I  just  wanted  to  say,"  said  Priest,  sitting 
on  the  edge  of  Joel's  bunk,  "  that  I  had  my  ear 
to  the  ground  and  heard  the  good  fighting. 
Yes,  I  heard  the  sleet  cracking.  You  never 
saw  me,  but  I  was  with  you  the  night  you 
drifted  to  the  Prairie  Dog.  Take  it  all  along 
the  line,  was  n't  it  good  fighting?" 

"  Has  Dell  told  you  everything  ?  "  inquired 
Joel,  sitting  up  in  his  blankets. 

"Everything,  including  the  fact  that  he  got 
lost  the  night  of  the  March  drift,  while  going 
home  after  a  pack  horse.  Would  n't  trust  poor 
old  Dog-toe,  but  run  on  the  rope  himself! 
Landed  down  the  creek  here  a  few  miles. 
News  to  you?  Well,  he  admits  that  the  horse 
forgot  more  than  he  himself  ever  knew.  That's 
a  hopeful  sign.  As  long  as  a  man  hearkens  to 
his  horse,  there  is  no  danger  of  bad  counsel 
being  thrust  on  him." 

The  boys  were  catching,  at  first  hand,  an 
insight  into  the  exacting  nature  of  trail  work. 
Their  friends  were  up  with  the  dawn,  and 
while  harnessing  in  the  team,  Forrest  called 
Joel's  attention  to  setting  the  ranch  in  order 
to  water  the  passing  herds. 

"I  was  telling  Dell  yesterday,"  said  he, 
"  the  danger  of  Texas  fever  among  wintered 


2i8  WELLS   BROTHERS 

cattle,  and  you  must  isolate  your  little  herd 
until  after  frost  falls.  Graze  your  cattle  up 
around  Hackberry  Grove,  and  keep  a  dead- 
line fully  three  miles  wide  between  the  win- 
tered and  through  trail  herds.  Any  new  cat- 
tle that  you  pick  up,  cripples  or  strays,  hold 
them  down  the  creek — between  here  and  the 
old  trail  crossing.  For  fear  of  losing  them 
you  can't  even  keep  milk  cows  around  the 
ranch,  so  turn  out  your  calves.  Don't  ask  me 
to  explain  Texas  fever.  It 's  one  of  the  mys- 
teries of  the  trail.  The  very  cattle  that  impart 
it  after  a  winter  in  the  north  catch  the  fever 
and  die  like  sheep.  It  seems  to  exist,  in  a  mild 
form,  in  through,  healthy  cattle,  but  once  im- 
parted to  native  or  northern  wintered  stock, 
it  becomes  violent  and  is  usually  fatal.  The 
sure,  safe  course  is  to  fear  and  avoid  it." 

The  two  foremen  were  off  at  an  early  hour. 
Priest  was  again  in  charge  of  Lovell's  lead 
herd,  and  leaving  the  horse  that  he  had  ridden 
to  the  Republican  River  in  care  of  the  boys, 
he  loitered  a  moment  at  parting. 

"  If  my  herd  left  Dodge  at  noon  yesterday," 
said  he,  mentally  calculating,  "  I  '11  overtake 
it  some  time  to-morrow  night.  Allowing  ten 
days  to  reach  here — " 

He  turned  to  the  boys.  "  This  is  the  six- 
teenth of  June.  Well,  come  out  on  the  divide 


AN   ILL  WIND  219 

on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-fifth  and  you 
will  see  a  dust  cloud  in  the  south.  The  long 
distance  between  waters  will  put  the  herd 
through  on  schedule  time.  Come  out  and 
meet  me." 

The  brothers  waved  the  buckboard  away. 
The  dragging  days  were  over.  The  herds  were 
coming,  and  their  own  little  ranch  promised 
relief  to  the  drover  and  his  cattle. 

"Mr.  Quince  says  the  usual  price  for  water- 
ing trail  herds  is  from  one  to  three  cents  a 
head,"  said  Dell,  as  their  friends  dipped  from 
sight.  "The  government,  so  he  says,  allows 
three  cents  for  watering  cavalry  horses  and 
harness  mules.  He  tells  me  that  the  new  set- 
tlers, in  control  of  the  water  on  the  trail,  in 
northern  Texas,  fairly  robbed  the  drovers  this 
year.  The  pastoral  Texan,  he  contends,  shared 
his  canteen  with  the  wayfarer,  and  never  re- 
fused to  water  cattle.  He  wants  us  to  pattern 
after  the  Texans — to  give  our  water  and  give 
it  freely.  When  Mr.  Lovell  raised  the  ques- 
tion of  arranging  to  water  his  herds  from  our 
beaver  ponds,  do  you  remember  how  Mr. 
Quince  answered  for  us  ?  I  'm  mighty  glad 
money  was  n't  mentioned.  No  money  could 
buy  Dog-toe  from  me.  And  Mr.  Lovell  gave 
us  three  of  our  best  horses." 

"  He  offered  me  ten  dollars  for  taking  him 


220  WELLS  BROTHERS 

to  the  railroad,"  said  Joel,  "  but  I  looked  him 
square  in  the  eye  and  refused  the  money.  Fie 
says  we  must  buy  more  cattle.  He  wants 
me  to  come  to  Dodge  in  August,  and  I'm 
going." 

Dell  treated  the  idea  of  bu3^ing  cattle  with 
slight  disdain.  "  You  —  going  —  to  —  buy  — 
more  —  cattle  ? ''  said  he,  accenting  each  word. 
"Any  one  tell  your  fortune  lately?" 

"Yes,"  answered  the  older  boy.  "I  'm  hav- 
ing it  told  every  day.  One  of  those  two  men, 
the  gray-haired  one  on  that  buckboard, — 
stand  here  and  you  can  see  them, — told  me 
over  a  year  ago  that  this  range  had  a  value, 
and  that  we  ought  to  skirmish  some  cattle, 
some  way,  and  stock  it.  What  he  saw  clearly 
then,  I  see  now,  and  what  Mr.  Lovell  sees 
now,  you  may  see  a  year  hence.  These  men 
have  proved  their  friendship,  and  why  stand 
in  our  own  light?  Our  ability  to  hold  cattle 
was  tested  last  winter,  and  if  this  range  is  an 
asset,  there  may  be  some  way  to  buy  more 
cattle.  I  'm  going  to  Dodge  in  August." 

Dell  was  silenced.  There  was  ample  time 
to  set  the  ranch  in  order.  Turning  away  from 
the  old  trail,  on  the  divide,  and  angling  in 
to  headquarters,  and  thence  northward,  was 
but  a  slight  elbow  on  the  general  course  of 
the  trail  herds.  The  long  distance  across  to 


AN   ILL   WIND  221 

the  Republican  would  compel  an  early  water- 
ing on  the  Beaver,  that  the  cattle  might  reach 
the  former  river  the  following  evening.  The 
brothers  knew  to  a  fraction  the  grazing  gait  of 
a  herd,  the  trailing  pace,  and  could  anticipate 
to  an  hour  the  time  required  to  move  a  herd 
from  the  Prairie  Dog  to  the  Beaver. 

The  milk  cows  and  calves  were  turned 
back  into  the  general  herd.  The  dead-line 
was  drawn  safely  below  Hackberry  Grove, 
between  imaginary  landmarks  on  either  slope, 
while  on  the  creek,  like  a  sentinel,  stood  a 
lone  willow  which  seemed  to  say,  "  Thus  far 
shalt  thou  go  and  no  farther."  The  extra  horses, 
now  in  the  pink  of  condition,  were  brought 
home  and  located  below  the  ranch,  and  the 
house  stood  in  order. 

The  arrival  of  the  first  herd  had  been  cor- 
rectly calculated.  The  brothers  rode  out  late 
on  the  morning  designated,  but  did  not  reach 
the  divide.  The  foremost  herd  was  met  within 
seven  miles  of  the  Beaver,  the  leaders  com- 
ing on  with  the  steady  stride  of  thirsty  cattle 
that  had  scented  water.  Priest  was  nowhere  in 
sight,  but  the  heavy  beeves  identified  the  herd, 
and  when  the  boys  hailed  a  point  man,  the 
situation  cleared. 

"  Mr.  Paul  —  our  boss  ?  "  repeated  the  point 
man.  "  He  's  setting  up  a  guide-board^  back 


222  WELLS   BROTHERS 

on  the  divide,  where  we  turned  off  from  the  old 
trail.  Say,  does  this  dim  wagon  track  we  're 
following  lead  to  Wells  Brothers'  ranch?" 

"  It  does,"  answered  Joel.  "  You  can  see 
the  willows  from  the  next  swell  of  the  prairie," 
added  Dell,  as  the  brothers  passed  on. 

It  was  a  select  herd  of  heavy  beeves.  In 
spite  of  the  drouth  encountered,  the  cattle 
were  in  fine  condition,  and  as  the  herd  snailed 
forward  at  its  steady  march,  the  sweep  of 
horn,  the  variety  of  color,  the  neat  outline  of 
each  animal  blended  into  a  pastoral  picture 
of  strength  and  beauty. 

The  boys  rode  down  the  advancing  column. 
A  swing  man  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  herd 
waved  his  hand  across  to  the  brothers,  and 
while  the  two  were  speculating  as  to  who  he 
might  be,  a  swing  lad  on  the  left  reined  out 
and  saluted  the  boys. 

With  hand  extended,  he  smilingly  inquired, 
"  Don't  you  remember  the  day  we  branded 
your  cattle?  How  did  the  Two  Bars  and  the 
Y  cows  winter? " 

"  It 's  Billy  Honeyman,"said  Dell,  beaming. 
"  Who  is  that  man  across  the  herd,  waving  at 
us  ?  "  he  inquired,  amid  hearty  greeting. 

"  That 's  Runt  Pickett,  the  little  fellow  who 
helped  us  brand — the  lad  who  rushed  the 
cattle.  The  herd  cuts  him  off  from  shaking 


AN   ILL  WIND  223 

hands.  Turn  your  horses  the  other  way  and 
tell  me  how  you  like  it  out  West." 

Dell  turned  back,  but  Joel  continued  on. 
The  column  of  beeves  was  fully  a  mile  in 
length.  After  passing  the  drag  end  of  the 
herd,  the  wagon  and  remuda  were  sighted, 
later  met,  with  the  foreman  still  at  the  rear. 
The  dust  cloud  of  yet  another  herd  arose  in 
the  distance,  and  while  Joel  pondered  on  its 
location  over  the  divide,  a  horseman  emerged 
from  a  dip  in  the  plain  and  came  toward  him 
in  a  slow  gallop. 

"  There  's  no  foreman  with  the  next  herd," 
explained  Priest,  slacking  his  horse  into  a 
walk,  "  and  the  segundo  was  n't  sure  which 
swell  was  the  real  divide.  We  trailed  two 
herds  past  your  ranch  last  summer,  but  the 
frost  has  mellowed  up  the  soil  and  the  grass 
has  overgrown  the  paths  until  every  trace  is 
gone.  I  planted  a  guide-post  and  marked  it 
'  Lovell's  Trail,'  so  the  other  foremen  will 
know  where  to  turn  off.  All  the  old  man's 
herds  are  within  three  or  four  days'  drive,  and 
after  that  it's  almost  a  solid  column  of  cattle 
back  to  Dodge.  Forrest  is  in  charge  of  the 
rear  herd,  and  will  pick  up  any  of  our  aban- 
doned cattle." 

The  two  shook  out  their  mounts,  passed  the 
commissary  and  saddle    stock,  but  halted  a 


224  WELLS   BROTHERS 

moment  at  the  drag  end  of  the  herd.  "  We  've 
been  dropping  our  cripples,"  explained  Priest, 
"  but  the  other  herds  will  bring  them  through. 
There 's  not  over  one  or  two  here,  but  I  'm  go- 
ing to  saw  off  three  horses  on  Wells  Brothers. 
Good  ones,  too,  that  is,  good  for  next  year." 

A  halt  was  made  at  the  lead  of  the  herd, 
and  some  directions  given  the  point  man.  It 
was  still  early  in  the  forenoon,  and  once  man 
and  boy  had  fairly  cleared  the  leaders  in  front, 
a  signal  was  given  and  the  cattle  turned  as  a 
single  animal  and  fell  to  grazing.  The  wagon 
and  remuda  never  halted;  on  being  joined 
by  the  two  horsemen,  they  continued  on  into 
the  Beaver.  Eleven  o'clock  was  the  hour 
named  to  water  the  herd,  and  punctual  to  the 
moment  the  beeves,  with  a  mile-wide  front, 
were  grazed  up  to  the  creek. 

The  cattle  were  held  around  the  pools  for 
an  hour.  Before  dinner  was  over,  the  acting 
foreman  of  the  second  herd  rode  in,  and  in 
mimicking  a  trail  boss,  issued  some  drastic 
orders.  The  second  herd  was  within  sight, 
refused  to  graze,  and  his  wagon  was  pulling  in 
below  the  ranch  for  the  noon  camp. 

Priest  looked  at  his  watch.  "  Start  the 
herd,"  said  he  to  his  own  men.  "  Hold  a  true 
northward  course,  and  camp  twelve  miles  out 
to-night.  I  may  not  be  with  you,  but  water 


AN   ILL  WIND  125 

in  the  Republican  at  six  o'clock  to-morrow 
evening.  Bring  in  your  herd,  young  fellow," 
he  concluded,  addressing  the  segundo. 

The  watering  of  a  trail  herd  is  important. 
Mere  opportunity  to  quench  thirst  is  not  suffi- 
cient. The  timid  stand  in  awe  of  the  strong, 
and  the  excited  milling  cattle  intimidate  the 
weak  and  thirsty.  An  hour  is  the  minimum 
time,  during  which  half  the  herd  may  drink 
and  lie  down,  affording  the  others  the  chance 
to  approach  without  fear  and  slake  their  thirst. 

The  acting  foreman  signaled  in  his  herd. 
The  beeves  around  the  water  were  aroused, 
and  reluctantly  grazed  out  on  their  course, 
while  the  others  came  on  with  a  sullen  stride 
that  thirst  enforces.  The  previous  scene  of 
contentment  gave  way  to  frenzy.  The  heavy 
beeves,  equally  select  with  the  vanguard, 
floundered  into  the  pools,  lowed  in  their  joy, 
drank  to  gorging,  fought  their  fellows,  stag- 
gered out  of  the  creek,  and  dropped  to  rest  in 
the  first  dust  or  dry  grass. 

Priest  trimmed  his  own  beeves  and  remuda. 
A  third  herd  appeared,  when  he  and  the  act- 
ing foreman  culled  over  both  horses  and  cattle, 
and  sent  the  second  herd  on  its  way.  Each  of 
the  three  advance  herds  must  reach  the  Re- 
publican the  following  day,  and  it  was  scant 
two  o'clock  when  the  third  one  trailed  out 


226  WELLS   BROTHERS 

from  the  Beaver.  With  mature  cattle  there 
were  few  cripples,  and  the  day  ended  with  an 
addition  to  the  little  ranch  of  the  promised 
horses  and  a  few  tender-footed  beeves.  There 
were  two  more  herds  of  heavy  beef  cattle  to 
follow,  which  would  arrive  during  the  next 
forenoon,  and  the  old  foreman  remained  over 
until  the  last  cattle,  intended  for  army  delivery, 
had  passed  the  ranch. 

The  herd  never  fails.  Faith  in  cattle  is  al- 
ways rewarded.  From  that  far  distant  dawn 
when  man  and  his  ox  started  across  the  ages 
the  one  has  ever  sustained  the  other.  The  two 
rear  beef  herds  promptly  reached  the  Beaver 
the  next  morning,  slaked  their  thirst,  and 
passed  on  before  noon. 

"  This  lets  me  out  as  your  guest,"  said 
Priest  to  the  boys,  when  the  last  herd  was 
trimmed.  "  Bob  Quirk  will  now  follow  with 
six  herds  of  contract  cattle.  He  's  the  foreman 
of  the  second  herd  of  beeves,  but  Mr.  Lovell 
detailed  him  to  oversee  this  next  division 
across  to  the  Platte.  Forrest  will  follow  Quirk 
with  the  last  five  herds  of  young  steers,  slated 
for  the  old  man's  beef  ranch  on  the  Little 
Missouri.  That  puts  our  cattle  across  the 
Beaver,  but  you  '11  have  plenty  of  company  for 
the  next  month.  Mr.  Lovell  has  made  a  good 
talk  for  you  boys  around  Dodge,  and  if  you  '11 


AN   ILL   WIND  227 

give  these  trail  drovers  this  water^  it  will  all 
come  back.  As  cowmen,  there  are  two  things 
that  you  want  to  remember  —  that  it  '11  rain 
again,  and  that  the  cows  will  calve  in  the 
spring." 

Priest  had  barely  left  the  little  ranch  when 
Bob  Quirk  arrived.  Before  dismounting,  he 
rode  around  the  pools,  signaled  in  a  wagon 
and  remuda,  and  returned  to  the  tent. 

"  This  is  trailing  cattle  with  a  vengeance," 
said  he,  stripping  his  saddle  from  a  tired  horse. 
"  There  has  been  such  a  fight  for  water  this 
year  that  every  foreman  seems  to  think  that 
unless  he  reaches  the  river  to-day  it'll  be  dry 
to-morrow.  Five  miles  apart  was  the  limit 
agreed  on  before  leaving  Dodge,  and  here  I 
am  with  six  herds — twenty  thousand  cattle! 
— within  twenty  miles  of  the  Beaver.  For  fear 
of  a  stampede  last  night,  we  threw  the  herds 
left  and  right,  two  miles  off  the  trail.  The 
Lord  surely  loves  cattle  or  the  earth  would 
have  shook  from  running  herds!" 

That  afternoon  and  the  next  morning  the 
second  division  of  the  Lovell  herds  crossed 
the  Beaver.  Forrest  rode  in  and  saluted  the 
boys  with  his  usual  rough  caress. 

"  Saddle  up  horses,"  said  he,  "  and  drop 
back  and  come  through  with  the  two  rear  herds. 
There  's  a  heavy  drag  end  on  each  one,  and 


228  WELLS   BROTHERS 

an  extra  man  to  nurse  those  tender  cows  over 
here,  to  home  and  friends,  will  be  lending  a 
hand  to  the  needy.  I  '11  run  the  ranch  while 
you  're  gone.  One  of  you  to  each,  the  fourth 
and  fifth  herds,  remember.  I  '11  meet  you  to- 
morrow morning,  and  we  '11  cut  the  cripples 
out  and  point  them  in  to  the  new  tanks  below. 
Shake  out  your  fat  horses,  sweat  them  up  a 
little  —  you  're  needed  at  the  rear  of  Lovell's 
main  drive." 

The  boys  saddled  and  rode  away  in  a  gal- 
lop. Three  of  the  rear  herds  reached  the 
Beaver  that  afternoon,  watered,  and  passed  on 
to  safe  camps  beyond.  One  of  Quirk's  wagons 
had  left  a  quarter  of  beef  at  headquarters,  and 
Forrest  spent  the  night  amid  peace  and  plenty 
where  the  3^ear  before  he  lay  wounded. 

The  next  morning  saw  the  last  of  the  Lovell 
herds  arrive.  The  lead  one  yielded  ninety 
cripples,  and  an  hour  later  the  rear  guard  dis- 
gorged a  few  over  one  hundred  head.  The 
two  contingents  were  thrown  together,  the 
brothers  nursed  them  in  to  the  new  tanks, 
where  they  were  freed  on  a  perfect  range. 
A  count  of  the  cripples  and  fagged  cattle, 
culled  back  at  headquarters,  brought  the  total 
discard  of  the  sixteen  herds  up  to  two  hundred 
and  forty-odd,  a  riffraff  of  welcome  flotsam, 
running  from  a  young  steer  to  a  seven-year- 


AN   ILL   WIND  229 

old  beef.  The  sweepings  had  paid  the  reckon- 
ing. 

Several  other  trail  foremen,  scouting  in  ad- 
vance of  their  herds,  had  reached  the  Beaver, 
or  had  been  given  assurance  that  water  was  to 
be  had  in  abundance.  A  measurement  of  the 
water  was  awaited  with  interest,  and  once  the 
rear  herd  grazed  out  from  the  beaver  ponds, 
Forrest  and  the  brothers  rode  around  the  pools 
to  take  soundings. 

"  I  cut  notches  on  willow  roots,  at  each 
beaver  dam,  and  the  loss  runs  from  four  to 
six  inches,  the  lower  pools  suffering  the  heav- 
iest," said  Joel,  summing  up  the  situation. 

"They  're  holding  like  cisterns,"  exultingly 
said  Forrest.  "  Fifty  thousand  cattle  watered, 
and  only  lowered  the  pools  on  an  average  of 
five  inches.  The  upper  one 's  still  taking  water 
—  that's  the  reason  it's  standing  the  drain. 
Write  it  in  the  sand  or  among  the  stars,  but 
the  water  's  here  for  this  year's  drive.  Go  back 
and  tell  those  waiting  foremen  to  bring  on 
their  cattle.  Headquarters  ranch  will  water 
every  trail  herd,  or  break  a  tug  trying." 


CHAPTER   XV 
water!  water! 

BRING  on  your  herds,"  said  Joel,  address^ 
ing  a  quartette  of  trail  foremen  resting 
under  the  sun-shade.  "  Our  water  is 
holding  out  better  than  we  expected.  The 
Lovell  cattle  only  lowered  the  ponds  a  trifle. 
From  the  present  outlook,  we  can  water  the 
drive." 

"That's  a  big  contract," reluctantly  admit- 
ted a  "  Running  W  "  trail  boss.  "I  had  word 
on  the  railroad  yesterday  that  the  Arkansaw 
River  at  Dodge  was  only  running  at  night." 

"  Water  is  reported  plentiful  around  Oga- 
lalla  and  beyond,"  doggedly  said  a  pock- 
marked foreman. 

"  That  '11  tempt  the  herds  to  cross  over," 
urged  the  Running  W  man.  "The  faraway 
hills  are  always  green." 

The  conversation  took  a  new  tack.  "Who 
knows  the  estimate  on  the  total  drive  this 
year  ?  "  inquired  a  swarthy,  sun-burned  little 
man,  addressing  the  pock-marked  foreman. 

"  A  rough  estimate  places  the  drive  at  six 


WATER!    WATER!  231 

hundred  and  fifty  thousand  head,"  came  the 
languid  reply. 

"There  you  are,"  smilingly  said  the  Run- 
ning W  boss,  turning  to  Joel.  "  Better  revise 
your  water  estimate." 

"  Not  now,"  answered  Joel,  meeting  smile 
with  smile.  "  Later  on  I  may  have  to  hedge, 
but  for  the  present,  bring  on  your  cattle." 

"  That 's  to  the  point,"  languidly  said  a  tall, 
blond  Texan,  arising.  "  My  cattle  must  have 
water  this  evening." 

The  other  trail  foremen  arose.  "We  all  un- 
derstand," remarked  the  pock-marked  man  to 
the  others,  "  that  this  is  the  place  where  we 
drop  our  strays,  fagged  and  crippled  stuff. 
These  are  the  boys  that  Mr.  Lovell  mentioned 
as  worthy  of  any  cattle  that  must  be  aban- 
doned." 

"  At  Wells  Brothers'  ranch,  on  the  Beaver," 
assentingly  said  the  little  man. 

"  Our  lead  herds  will  not  have  many  crip- 
ples," said  the  Running  W  foreman,  turning  to 
the  boys.  "  A  few  days'  rest  is  everything  to  a 
tender-footed  steer,  and  what  cattle  the  lead 
ones  drop,  the  rear  ones  have  orders  to  bring 
through  to  you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Joel  frankly.  "  We 
want  to  stock  our  range,  and  crippled  cattle 
are  as  good  as  gold  to  us." 


232  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Spurs  clanked  as  the  men  turned  to  their 
mounts.  The  boys  followed,  and  Dell  over- 
took the  blond  Texan.  "  If  you  need  a  hand 
on  the  drag  end  of  your  herd,"  said  the  boy 
to  the  tall  foreman,  "I  '11  get  up  a  fresh  horse 
and  overtake  you." 

"  Make  it  a  horse  apiece,"  said  the  young 
man,  "and  I  '11  sign  your  petition  for  the  post 
office  —  when  this  country  has  one.  I  'm  as 
good  as  afoot." 

The  other  foremen  mounted  their  horses. 
"I'll  overtake  you,"  said  Joel  to  the  trio,  "as 
soon  as  I  change  mounts.  Whoever  has  the 
lead  herd,  come  in  on  the  water  above  the 
field.  The  upper  pools  are  the  deepest,  and 
let  your  cattle  cover  the  water  evenly." 

"  I  'm  in  the  lead,"  said  the  pock-marked 
man.  "But  we'll  have  to  come  up  to  the 
water  in  trailing  formation.  The  cattle  have 
suffered  from  thirst,  and  they  break  into  a  run 
at  sight  of  water,  if  grazed  up  to  it.  You  may 
take  one  point  and  I  '11  take  the  other." 

The  existing  drouth  promised  a  good  school- 
ing for  the  brothers.  Among  the  old  philo- 
sophies, contact  was  said  to  be  educational. 
Wells  Brothers  were  being  thrown  in  con- 
tact with  the  most  practical  men  that  the  oc- 
cupation, in  all  pastoral  ages,  had  produced. 
The  novelty  of  trailing  cattle  vast  distances 


WATER!    WATER  I  233 

had  its  origin  with  the  Texans.  Bred  to  the 
calling,  they  were  masters  of  the  craft.  In  the 
hands  of  an  adept  outfit  of  a  dozen  men,  a  trail 
herd  of  three  thousand  beeves  had  all  the  mo- 
bility of  a  brigade  of  cavalry.  The  crack  of  a 
whip  was  unheard  on  the  trail.  A  whispered 
order,  followed  by  a  signal  to  the  men,  and 
the  herd  turned,  grazed  to  its  contentment, 
fell  into  column  formation,  and  took  up  its 
march  —  a  peaceful  march  that  few  armies 
have  equaled.  Contact  with  these  men,  the 
rank  and  file  of  that  splendid  cavalry  which 
once  patrolled  the  range  industry  of  the  West, 
was  priceless  to  the  boys. 

The  lead  herd  reached  the  Beaver  valley  at 
noon.  When  within  a  mile  of  the  water,  the 
point  men  gave  way  to  the  foremen  and  Joel 
Wells.  But  instead  of  dropping  back,  the  dust- 
covered  men  rode  on  into  the  lead,  the  action 
being  seemingly  understood  by  every  one 
except  the  new  hand  on  the  point.  Joel  was 
alert,  felt  the  massive  column  of  beeves  yield 
to  his  slightest  pressure,  as  a  ship  to  the  hand 
of  the  helmsman,  as  he  veered  the  leaders  out 
of  the  broken  trails  and  guided  the  herd  around 
the  field  to  the  upper  pools.  On  nearing  the 
water,  the  deposed  point  men  deployed  nearer 
the  lead,  when  the  object  of  their  position  ex- 
plained itself.  On  sighting  the  ponds,  the  lead- 


234  WELLS  BROTHERS 

ers  broke  into  a  run,  but  the  four  horsemen  at 
hand  checked  the  excited  dash,  and  the  herd 
was  led  up  to  the  water  in  column  formation. 
It  was  the  mastery  of  man  over  the  creature. 

The  herds  arrived  in  hit-and-miss  class. 
The  destination  of  the  pock-marked  foreman's 
beeves  was  an  army  post  in  Dakota.  The 
swarthy  little  man  followed  with  a  herd  of 
cows  for  delivery  at  an  Indian  agency  in  Wy- 
oming. The  different  Running  W  herds  were 
under  contract  to  different  cattle  companies, 
in  adjoining  states  and  territories.  The  tall 
foreman's  herd  was  also  under  contract,  but 
the  point  of  delivery  was  at  Ogalalla,  on  the 
Platte,  where  a  ranch  outfit  would  receive  the 
cattle. 

The  latter  herd  arrived  late  at  evening.  The 
cattle  were  driven  on  speculation,  there  had 
been  an  oversight  in  mounting  the  outfit,  and 
the  men,  including  the  foreman,  were  as  good 
as  afoot. 

"This  trip  lets  me  out,"  said  the  young 
Texan  to  the  brothers,  "  of  walking  up  the 
trail  and  leading  fagged-out  saddle  stock.  A 
mount  of  six  horses  to  the  man  may  be  all 
right  on  a  ranch,  but  it  won't  do  on  the  trail. 
Especially  in  a  dry  year,  with  delivery  on  the 
Platte.  Actually,  this  afternoon  is  the  first  time 
I  have  felt  a  horse  under  me  since  we  crossed 


WATER  I    WATER!  235 

Red  River.  Give  me  a  sheet  of  paper,  please. 
I  want  to  give  you  a  bill  of  sale  for  these  six 
drag  ponies  that  I'm  sawing  off  on  you.  I 
carry  written  authority  to  give  a  bill  of  sale, 
and  it  will  always  protect  your  possession  of 
the  horses.  They  would  n't  bring  a  dollar  a 
head  in  Ogalalla,  but  when  they  round  into 
form  again  next  summer,  some  brand  ferret 
passing  might  want  to  claim  them  on  you. 
Any  cattle  that  I  cull  out  here  are  abandoned, 
you  understand,  simply  abandoned." 

The  boys  were  left  alone  for  the  first  time 
in  several  nights.  The  rush  of  the  past  few 
days  had  kept  them  in  the  saddle  during  their 
waking  hours.  The  dead-line  had  been  neg- 
lected, the  drifting  of  cripples  to  the  new 
tanks  below  was  pressing,  and  order  must  be 
established.  The  water  in  the  pools  was  the 
main  concern,  a  thing  beyond  human  control, 
and  a  matter  of  constant  watchfulness.  A  re- 
mark dropped  during  the  day,  of  water  flow- 
ing at  night,  was  not  lost  on  the  attentive  ear 
of  Joel  Wells. 

"What  did  you  mean?"  he  politely  in- 
quired of  the  Running  W  foreman,  while  the 
latter's  herd  was  watering,  "  of  a  river  only 
running  at  night?" 

"  All  over  this  arid  country  moisture  rises 
at  night  and  sinks  by  day,"  replied  the  trail 


236  WELLS   BROTHERS 

boss.  "  Under  drouth,  these  sandy  rivers  of 
the  plain,  including  the  Platte  and  for  a  thou- 
sand miles  to  the  south,  only  flow  at  night. 
It's  their  protection  against  the  sun's  absorp- 
tion. Mark  these  pools  at  sunset  and  see  if 
they  don  't  rise  an  inch  to-night.  Try  it  and 
see." 

Willow  roots  were  notched  on  the  water- 
line  of  each  beaver  dam.  The  extreme  upper 
pool  was  still  taking  water  from  a  sickly  flow, 
a  struggling  rivulet,  fed  by  the  springs  at  its 
head.  Doubt  was  indulged  in  and  freely  ex- 
pressed. 

"  If  the  water  only  holds  a  week  longer," 
ventured  Dell,  sleepless  in  his  blankets,  "it'll 
double  our  holding  of  cattle." 

"  It  '11  hold  a  month,"  said  Joel,  equall}^ 
sleepless.  "  We've  got  to  stand  by  these  trail 
herds  —  there  is  no  other  water  short  of  the 
Republican.  I  've  figured  it  all  out.  When  the 
Beaver  ponds  are  gone,  we  '11  round  up  the 
wintered  cattle,  drift  them  over  to  the  south 
fork  of  the  Republican,  and  get  some  one  to 
hold  them  until  frost  falls.  Then  we  '11  ship 
the  cripples  up  to  Hackberry  Grove,  and  that 
will  free  the  new  tanks — water  enough  for 
twenty  trail  herds.  We  have  the  horses,  and 
these  trail  outfits  will  lend  us  any  help  we 
need.  By  shifting  cattle  around,  I  can  see  a 


WATER!    WATER!  237 

month's  supply.  And  there  maybe  something 
in  water  rising  at  night.   We  '11  know  in  the 


morning." 


Sleep  blotted  out  the  night.  Dawn  revealed 
the  fact  that  the  trail  foreman  knew  the  se- 
crets of  the  plain.  "  That  trail  boss  knew," 
shouted  Joel,  rushing  into  the  tent  and  awaken- 
ing Dell.  "  The  water  rose  in  every  pool. 
The  lower  one  gained  an  inch  and  the  upper 
one  gained  two.  The  creek  is  running  freely. 
The  water  must  be  rising  out  of  the  ground. 
Let  those  Texans  bring  on  their  herds.  We 
have  oceans  of  water!  " 

The  cattle  came.  The  first  week  thirty 
herds  passed  the  new  ranch.  It  took  riding. 
The  dead-line  was  held,  the  flotsam  cared  for, 
and  a  hand  was  ever  ready  to  point  a  herd  or 
nurse  the  drag  end.  Open  house  was  main- 
tained. Every  arriving  foreman  was  tendered 
a  horse,  and  left  his  benediction  on  the  Beaver. 

The  ranch  proved  a  haven  to  man  and  beast. 
One  of  the  first  foremen  to  arrive  during  the 
second  week  was  Nat  Straw.  He  drove  up  at 
sunset,  with  a  chuck-wagon,  halted  at  the 
tent,  and  in  his  usual  easy  manner  inquired, 
"Where  is  the  matron  of  this  hospital?" 

"Here  she  is,"  answered  Dell,  recognizing 
the  man  and  surmising  the  situation.  "  One  of 
your  men  hurt?" 


238  WELLS   BROTHERS 

''  Not  seriously,"  answered  Straw,  looking 
back  into  the  wagon.  "Just  a  little  touch  of 
the  dengue.  He 's  been  drinking  stagnant 
water,  out  of  cow  tracks,  for  the  last  few 
months,  and  that  gets  into  the  bones  of  the 
best  of  us.  I  'm  not  feeling  very  well  myself." 

Dell  lifted  the  wagon-sheet  and  peered  in- 
side. "  Let 's  get  the  poor  fellow  into  the  tent," 
urged  the  boy.  "  Can  he  walk,  or  can  you 
and  I  carry  him?" 

"  He 's  the  long  size  Texan,  and  we  'd  bet- 
ter try  and  trail  him  in,"  answered  Straw, 
alighting  from  the  wagon.  "  Where  's  Dr.  Joel 
Wells?" 

"  Riding  the  dead-line.  He  '11  be  in  shortly. 
I  '11  fix  a  cot,  and  we  '11  bring  the  sick  man  in 
at  once." 

It  was  simple  malaria,  known  in  the  South- 
west as  dengue  fever.  The  unfortunate  lad 
was  made  comfortable,  and  on  Joel  riding  in. 
Straw  had  skirmished  some  corn,  and  was 
feeding  his  mules. 

"As  one  of  the  founders  of  this  hospital," 
said  Straw,  after  greeting  Joel,  "this  corn  has 
my  approval.  It  is  my  orders,  as  one  of  the 
trustees,  that  it  be  kept  in  stock  hereafter. 
This  team  has  to  go  back  to  the  Prairie  Dog 
to-night,  and  this  corn  will  fortify  them  for  the 
trip." 


WATER!    WATER!  239 

The  situation  was  explained.  "  I  only  lost 
half  a  day,"  continued  Straw,  "by  bringing 
the  poor  fellow  over  to  you.  He  's  one  of  the 
best  men  that  ever  worked  for  me,  and  a 
month's  rest  will  put  him  on  his  feet  again. 
Now,  if  one  of  you  boys  will  take  the  team 
back  to—" 

"  Certainly,"  answered  Joel.  "  Anything  a 
director  of  this  hospital  wants  done  —  We  Ve 
running  a  relief  station  now  —  watering  the 
entire  drive  this  year.  Where  's  your  outfit 
camped  ?  " 

"  A  mile  above  the  trail  crossing  on  the 
Prairie  Dog.  The  wagon 's  empty.  Leave  here 
at  two  o'clock  to-night,  and  you  '11  get  there 
in  time  for  breakfast." 

"  I  'm  your  man.  Going  to  the  Prairie  Dog 
at  night,  in  the  summer,  is  a  horse  that 's  easy 
curried." 

The  next  evening  Joel  brought  in  Straw's 
herd.  In  the  mean  time  the  sick  man  had 
been  cared  for,  and  the  passing  wayfarer  and 
his  cattle  made  welcome  and  sped  on  their 
way.  During  the  lay-over,  Straw  had  lost  his 
place  in  the  overland  march,  two  herds  having 
passed  him  and  crossed  the  Beaver. 

"  I'm  corporal  here  to-day,"  said  Straw  to 
the  two  foremen,  who  arrived  together  in  ad- 
vance. "  On  this  water,  I  'm  the  squatter  that  '11 


240  WELLS   BROTHERS 

rob  you  right.  You  '11  count  your  cattle  to  me 
and  pay  the  bill  in  advance.  This  cool,  shaded 
water  in  the  Beaver  is  worth  three  cents  a 
head,  and  I  '11  count  you  down  to  a  toddling 
calf  and  your  wagon  mules.  Your  drafts  are 
refused  honor  at  the  Beaver  banks  —  nothing 
but  the  long  green  passes  currency  here.  You 
varmints  must  show  some  regrets  for  taking 
advantage  of  a  widow  woman.  I  '11  make  you 
sorry  for  passing  me." 

"  How  I  love  to  hear  old  Nat  rattle  his 
little  song,"  said  one  of  the  foremen,  shaking 
hands  with  Dell.  "  Remember  the  night  you 
slept  with  me  ?  How  's  the  black  cow  I  gave 
you  last  summer?" 

Dell  fairly  clung  to  the  grasped  hand. 
"  Pressnell's  foreman !  "  said  he,  recalling  both 
man  and  incident.  "  The  cow  has  a  roan  calf. 
Sit  down.  Will  you  need  a  fresh  horse  to-day  ? 
Do  you  like  lettuce?  " 

"  I  reckon,  Nat,"  said  the  other  foreman,  an 
hour  later,  as  the  two  mounted  loaned  horses, 
"  I  reckon  your  big  talk  goes  up  in  smoke. 
You're  not  the  only  director  in  this  cattle 
company.  Dell,  ransack  both  our  wagons  to- 
day, and  see  if  you  can't  unearth  some  dainties 
for  this  sick  lad.  No  use  looking  in  Straw's 
commissary;  he  never  has  anything  to  eat; 
Injuns  won't  go  near  his  wagon." 


WATER!    WATER  I  241 

Straw  spent  a  second  night  with  the  sick 
man.  On  leaving  in  the  morning,  he  took  the 
feverish  hand  of  the  lad  and  said :  "  Now, 
Jack,  make  yourself  right  at  home.  These 
boys  have  been  tried  before,  and  they  're  our 
people.  I  'm  leaving  you  a  saddle  and  a  horse, 
and  when  you  get  on  your  feet,  take  your 
own  bearings.  You  can  always  count  on  a  job 
with  me,  and  I  '11  see  that  you  draw  wages 
until  my  outfit  is  relieved.  This  fever  will 
burn  itself  out  in  a  week  or  ten  days.  I  '11  keep 
an  eye  over  you  until  you  are  well.  S'  long, 
Jack." 

The  second  week  fell  short  only  two  herds 
of  the  previous  one.  There  were  fully  as  many 
cattle  passed,  and  under  the  heat  of  advancing 
summer  the  pools  suffered  a  thirsty  levy.  The 
resources  of  the  ponds  were  a  constant  source 
of  surprise,  as  an  occasional  heavy  beef  caved 
a  foot  into  an  old  beaver  warren,  which  poured 
its  contents  into  the  pools.  At  the  end  of  the 
first  fortnight,  after  watering  fifty-eight  herds, 
nearly  half  the  original  quantity  of  water  was 
still  in  reserve. 

A  third  week  passed.  There  was  a  decided 
falling  off  in  the  arrival  of  herds,  only  twenty- 
two  crossing  the  Beaver.  The  water  reserves 
suffered  freely,  more  from  the  sun's  absorption 
than  from  cattle,  until  the  supply  became  a 


242  WELLS    BROTHERS 

matter  of  the  most  serious  concern.  The  pools 
would  not  have  averaged  a  foot  in  depth,  the 
flow  from  the  springs  was  a  mere  trickle,  the 
beaver  burrows  sounded  empty  to  a  horse's 
footbeat,  and  there  must  be  some  limit  to  the 
amount  the  parched  soil  would  yield. 

The  brothers  found  apt  counsel  in  their 
guest.  By  the  end  of  the  second  week,  the 
fever  had  run  its  course,  and  the  sick  man, 
Jack  Sargent,  was  up  and  observant  of  the  sit- 
uation. True  to  his  calling,  he  felt  for  the 
cattle,  and  knew  the  importance  of  water  on 
the  Beaver  to  the  passing  drive. 

"You  must  rest  these  beaver  ponds,"  said 
Jack,  in  meeting  the  emergency.  "  Every  time 
these  pools  lower  an  inch,  it  gives  the  sun  an 
advantage.  It's  absorption  that's  swallowing 
up  the  ponds.  You  must  deepen  these  pools, 
which  will  keep  the  water  cooler.  Rest  these 
ponds  a  few  days,  or  only  water  late  at  night. 
You  have  water  for  weeks  yet,  but  don't  let  the 
sun  rob  you.  These  ponds  are  living  springs 
compared  to  some  of  the  water  we  used  south 
of  Red  River.  Meet  the  herds  on  the  divide, 
and  pilot  the  early  ones  to  the  tanks  below,  and 
the  late  ones  in  here.  Shifting  in  your  saddle 
rests  a  horse,  and  a  little  shifting  will  save  your 
water." 

The  advice   was  acted  on.   While  conva- 


WATER!    WATER!  243 

lescent,  Sargent  was  installed  as  host  on  the 
Beaver,  and  the  brothers  took  to  their  saddles. 
The  majority  of  the  herds  were  met  on  the 
Prairie  Dog,  and  after  a  consultation  with  the 
foremen  their  cattle  were  started  so  as  to  reach 
the  tanks  by  day  or  the  ranch  at  evening.  The 
month  rounded  out  with  the  arrival  of  eight- 
een herds,  only  six  of  which  touched  at  head- 
quarters, and  the  fourth  week  saw  a  distinct 
gain  in  the  water  supply  at  the  beaver  dams. 
The  boys  barely  touched  at  home,  to  change 
horses,  living  with  the  trail  wagons,  piloting 
in  herds,  rich  in  the  reward  of  relieving  the 
wayfaring,  and  content  with  the  crumbs  that 
fell  to  their  range. 

The  drouth  of  1886  left  a  gruesome  record 
in  the  pastoral  history  of  the  West.  The  south- 
ern end  of  the  Texas  and  Montana  cattle  trail 
was  marked  by  the  bones  of  forty  thousand 
cattle  that  fell,  due  to  the  want  of  water,  dur- 
ing the  months  of  travail  on  that  long  march. 
Some  of  this  loss  was  due  to  man's  inhumanity 
to  the  cattle  of  the  fields,  in  withholding  water, 
but  no  such  charge  rested  on  the  owners  of 
the  little  ranch  on  the  Beaver. 

A  short  month  witnessed  the  beginning  of 
the  end  of  the  year's  drive.  Only  such  herds 
as  were  compelled  to,  and  those  that  had 
strength  in  reserve,  dared  the  plain  between 


244  WELLS   BROTHERS 

the  Arkansas  and  Platte  Rivers.  The  fifth 
week  only  six  herds  arrived,  all  of  which 
touched  at  the  ranch;  half  of  them  had  been 
purchased  at  Dodge,  had  neither  a  cripple  nor 
a  stray  to  bestow,  but  shared  the  welcome 
water  and  passed  on. 

One  of  the  purchased  herds  brought  a  wel- 
come letter  to  Joel.  It  was  from  Don  Lovell, 
urgently  accenting  anew  his  previous  invita- 
tion to  come  to  Dodge  and  look  over  the 
market. 

"  After  an  absence  of  several  weeks,"  wrote 
Mr.  Lovell,  "  I  have  returned  to  Dodge. 
From  a  buyer's  standpoint,  the  market  is  in- 
viting. The  boom  prices  which  prevailed  in 
'84  are  cut  in  half.  Any  investment  in  cattle 
now  is  perfectly  safe. 

"  I  have  ordered  three  of  my  outfits  to  re- 
turn here.  They  will  pass  your  ranch.  Fall 
in  with  the  first  one  that  comes  along.  Bring 
a  mount  of  horses,  and  report  to  me  on  arriv- 
ing. Fully  half  this  year's  drive  is  here,  un- 
sold. Be  sure  and  come." 

"  Are  you  going?  "  inquired  Dell  on  read- 
ing the  letter. 

"  I  am,"  answered  Joel  with  emphasis. 

"  That 's  the  talk,"  said  Sargent.  "  When- 
ever cattle  get  so  cheap  that  no  other  man 
will  look  a  cow  in  the  face,  that 's  the  time  to 


WATER  I    WATER!  245 

buy  her.  Folks  are  like  sheep;  the  Bible  says 
so;  they  all  want  to  buy  or  all  want  to  sell. 
I  only  know  Mr.  Lovell  from  what  you  boys 
have  told  me ;  but  by  ordering  three  outfits  to 
return  to  Dodge,  I  can  see  that  he  's  going  to 
take  advantage  of  that  market  and  buy  about 
ten  thousand  cattle.  You  've  got  the  range. 
Buy  this  summer.  I  '11  stay  with  Dell  until 
you  return.  Buy  a  whole  herd  of  steers,  and 
I  '11  help  you  hold  them  this  winter." 

The  scene  shifted.  Instead  of  looking  to  the 
south  for  a  dust  cloud,  the  slopes  of  the  north 
were  scanned  for  an  approaching  cavalcade. 
The  last  week  admitted  of  taking  an  account 
of  the  cattle  dropped  at  the  new  ranch.  From 
the  conserves  of  its  owners,  one  hundred  and 
four  herds  had  watered,  over  three  hundred 
thousand  cattle,  the  sweepings  of  which 
amounted  to  a  few  over  eleven  hundred  head, 
fully  fifty  of  which,  exhausted  beyond  recov- 
ery, died  after  reaching  their  new  range. 

By  the  end  of  July,  only  an  occasional  herd 
was  arriving.  August  was  ushered  in  with 
the  appearance  of  Bob  Quirk,  one  of  the  divi- 
sion foremen,  on  the  upper  march.  He  arrived 
early  in  the  morning,  in  advance  of  his  outfit 
barely  an  hour,  and  inquired  for  Joel.  Dell 
answered  for  the  brothers,  the  older  one  and 
Sargent  being  above  at  Hackberry  Grove. 


246  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"  I  have  orders  to  bring  him  to  Dodge," 
said  Qiiirk,  dismounting.  "Make  haste  and 
bring  in  the  remuda.  We  '11  cut  him  out  a 
mount  of  six  horses  and  throw  them  in  with 
mine.  Joel  can  follow  on  the  seventh.  My 
outfit  will  barely  touch  here  in  passing.  We're 
due  to  receive  cattle  in  Dodge  on  the  5th,  and 
time  is  precious.  Joel  can  overtake  us  before 
night.  Make  haste." 


CHAPTER   XVI 

A    PROTECTED    CREDIT 

THE  trail  outfit  swept  past  the  ranch, 
leaving  Dell  on  nettles.  The  impor- 
tance of  the  message  was  urgent,  and 
saddling  up  a  horse,  he  started  up  the  Beaver 
in  search  of  Joel  and  Sargent.  They  were  met 
returning,  near  the  dead-line,  and  after  listen- 
ing to  the  breathless  report,  the  trio  gave  free 
rein  to  their  horses  on  the  homeward  ride. 

"  I  '11  use  old  Rowdy  for  my  seventh  horse," 
said  Joel,  swinging  out  of  the  saddle  at  the 
home  corral.  "Bring  him  in  and  give  him  a 
feed  of  corn.  It  may  be  late  when  I  overtake 
the  outfit.  Mr.  Quince  says  that  that  old  horse 
has  cow-sense  to  burn;  that  he  can  scent  a 
camp  at  night,  or  trail  a  remuda  like  a  hound." 

An  hour  later  Joel  cantered  up  to  the  tent. 
"This  may  be  a  wild-goose  chase,"  said  he, 
"but I'm  off.  If  my  hopes  fall  dead,  lean  make 
a  hand  coming  back.  Sargent,  if  I  do  buy  any 
cattle,  your  name  goes  on  the  pay-roll  from 
to-day.  I  '11  leave  you  in  charge  of  the  ranch, 
anyhow.  There  is  n't  much  to  do  except  to 
ride  the  dead-line  twice  a  day.  The  wintered 


248  WELLS   BROTHERS 

cattle  are  located;  and  the  cripples  below  — 
the  water  and  their  condition  will  hold  them. 
Keep  open  house,  and  amuse  yourselves  the 
best  you  can.  That 's  about  all  I  can  think 
of  just  now." 

Joel  rode  away  in  serious  meditation.  Al- 
though aged  beyond  his  years,  he  was  only 
seventeen.  That  he  could  ride  into  Dodge 
City,  the  far-famed  trail-town  of  the  West, 
and  without  visible  resources  buy  cattle,  was 
a  fit  subject  for  musing.  There  the  drovers 
from  Texas  and  the  ranchmen  from  the  north 
and  west  met  and  bartered  for  herds  —  where 
the  drive  of  the  year  amounted  to  millions  in 
value.  Still  the  boy  carried  a  pressing  invi- 
tation from  a  leading  drover  to  come,  and 
neither  slacking  rein  nor  looking  back,  he 
was  soon  swallowed  up  in  the  heat-waves 
over  the  plain. 

Sargent  and  Dell  sought  the  shelter  of  the 
awning.  "  Well,"  said  the  latter,  "  that  trip  's 
a  wild-goose  chase.  How  he  expects  to  buy 
cattle  without  money  gets  me." 

"It  may  be  easier  than  it  seems," answered 
Sargent.  "You  secured  a  start  in  cattle  last 
summer  without  money.  Suppose  you  save  a 
thousand  head  out  of  the  cripples  this  year, 
what  have  they  cost  you?  " 

"That's different,"  protested  Dell.  "  Dodge 


A   PROTECTED   CREDIT        249 

City  is  a  market  where  buyers  and  sellers 
meet." 

"  True  enough.  And  behind  that  are  un- 
seen conditions.  The  boom  of  two  years  ago 
in  land  and  live  stock  bankrupted  many  peo- 
ple in  Texas.  Cattle  companies  were  organ- 
ized on  the  very  summit  of  that  craze.  Then 
came  the  slump.  Last  year  cattle  had  fallen 
in  price  nearly  forty  per  cent.  This  year  there 
is  a  further  falling.  I  'm  giving  you  Texas  con- 
ditions. Half  the  herds  at  Dodge  to-day  are 
being  handled  by  the  receivers  of  cattle  com- 
panies or  by  trustees  for  banks.  That  accounts 
for  the  big  drive.  Then  this  drouth  came  on, 
and  the  offerings  at  Dodge  are  unfit  for  any 
purpose,  except  to  restock  ranches.  And  those 
northern  ranchmen  know  it.  They  '11  buy  the 
cattle  at  their  own  price  and  pay  for  them 
when  they  get  good  and  ready." 

Dell  was  contending  for  his  view.  "  Do  you 
claim  that  a  northern  cowman  can  buy  cattle 
from  a  Texas  drover  without  money  ?  " 

"Certainly.  When  one  sheep  jumps  off  the 
cliff  and  breaks  his  neck,  all  the  rest  jump  off 
and  break  their  necks.  When  money  is  pour- 
ing into  cattle,  as  it  was  two  years  ago,  range 
cattle  were  as  good  as  gold.  Now,  when  all 
that  investment  is  trying  to  withdraw  from 
cattle,  they  become  a  drag  on  the  market. 


250  WELLS   BROTHERS 

The  Simple  Simons  ain't  all  dead  yet.  Joel 
will  buy  cattle." 

"  He  may,  but  I  don't  see  how." 

"  Buy  them  just  as  any  other  wide-awake 
cowman.  You  brothers  are  known  in  Dodge. 
This  water  that  you  have  given  the  drovers, 
during  the  drouth,  has  made  you  friends.  Mr. 
Lovell's  word,  in  your  behalf,  is  as  good  as 
money  in  the  bank.  Joel  will  come  back  with 
cattle.  My  only  fear  is,  he  won't  strain  his 
credit." 

"Credit!  Who  would  credit  us?" 

"  Why  not?  There  are  not  so  many  drovers 
at  Dodge  who  had  your  showing  at  the  same 
age.  They  have  fought  their  way  up  and 
know  who  to  credit.  Your  range  and  ability 
to  hold  cattle  are  your  best  assets.  We  must 
shape  up  the  ranch,  because  Joel  will  come  in 
with  cattle." 

"  You  're  the  foreman,"  said  Dell  assent- 
ingly.  "And  what 's  more,  if  Joel  comes  home 
with  cattle,  I  '11  hit  the  ground  with  my  hat  and 
shout  as  loud  as  any  of  you." 

"  That 's  the  talk.  I  'm  playing  Joel  to  come 
back  winner.  Let 's  saddle  up  horses,  and  ride 
through  the  cripples  this  afternoon.  I  want  to 
get  the  lay  of  the  range,  and  the  water,  and  a 
line  on  the  cattle." 

Joel  overtook  Bob  Quirk  midway  between 


A   PROTECTED   CREDIT        251 

the  Prairie  Dog  and  the  railroad.  The  outfit 
was  drifting  south  at  the  rate  of  forty  miles 
a  day,  traveling  early  and  late  to  avoid  the 
heat.  On  sighting  the  lone  horseman  in  the 
rear,  signals  were  exchanged,  and  the  foreman 
halted  until  Joel  overtook  the  travelers. 

"  This  is  the  back  track,"  said  Quirk, "  and 
we  're  expected  to  crowd  three  days  into  one. 
I  don't  know  what  the  old  man  wants  with 
you,  but  I  had  a  wire  to  pick  you  up." 

"Mr.  Lovell  has  been  urging  me  to  stock 
our  range  —  to  buy  more  cattle,"  admitted 
Joel. 

"That 's  what  I  thought.  He 's  buying  right 
and  left.  We  're  on  our  way  now  to  receive 
cattle.  That's  it;  the  old  man  has  a  bunch  of 
cattle  in  sight  for  you." 

"Possibly.  But  what 's  worrying  me  is,  how 
am  I  to  buy  them  —  if  it  takes  any  money!  " 
dejectedly  admitted  the  husky  boy. 

"  Is  that  fretting  you  ? "  lightly  inquired 
Quirk.  "  Let  the  old  man  do  the  worrying  — 
that 's  his  long  suit.  You  can  rest  easy  that  he 
has  everything  all  figured  out.  It  might  keep 
you  and  I  guessing,  but  it 's  as  clear  as  mud 
to  that  old  man.  We  '11  make  Dodge  in  four 
days." 

The  ravages  of  the  drouth  were  dishearten- 
ing. A  few  hours  after  sunrise_,  a  white  haze 


252  WELLS   BROTHERS 

settled  over  the  dull,  dead  plain,  the  heat- 
waves rolled  up  to  the  cavalcade  like  a  burn- 
ing prairie,  sweat  and  dust  crusted  over  the 
horses  under  saddle,  without  variation  of  pace 
or  course.  Only  three  herds  were  met,  feel- 
ing their  way  through  the  mirages,  or  loiter- 
ing along  the  waters.  Traveling  by  night  was 
preferable,  and  timing  the  route  into  camps 
and  marches,  the  Cottonwood  on  the  Arkansas 
River  was  sighted  in  advance  of  the  schedule. 

The  outfit  halted  on  a  creek  north  of  town. 
Cattle  under  herd  had  been  sighted  by  the 
thousands,  and  before  the  camp  was  made 
snug,  a  conveyance  drove  up  and  Forrest  and 
Don  Lovell  alighted. 

"  Well,  Bob,  you  're  a  little  ahead  of  time," 
said  the  latter,  amid  general  greetings,  "  but 
I  'm  glad  of  it.  I  've  closed  trades  on  enough 
cattle  to  make  up  a  herd,  and  the  sellers  are 
hurrying  me  to  receive  them.  Pick  up  a  full 
outfit  of  men  to-night,  and  we  '11  receive  to- 
morrow afternoon.  Qiiince  took  the  train  at 
Cheyenne,  but  his  outfit  ought  to  reach  here 
in  a  day  or  so.  I  've  laid  my  tape  on  this  mar- 
ket, and  have  all  the  cattle  in  sight  that  I  want. 
Several  deals  are  pending,  awaiting  the  ar- 
rival of  this  boy.  Come  to  town  to-night.  I  '11 
take  Joel  under  my  wing  right  now." 

Three  horses  were  caught,  Joel  riding  one 


A   PROTECTED   CREDIT        253 

and  leading  two,  and  the  vehicle  started.  It 
was  still  early  in  the  afternoon,  and  following 
down  the  creek,  within  an  hour  the  party 
reached  a  trail  wagon  encamped.  A  number 
of  men  were  about,  including  a  foreman;  and 
at  the  request  of  Mr.  Lovell  to  look  over  their 
cattle  and  horses  again  the  camp  took  on  an 
air  of  activity.  A  small  remuda  was  corralled 
within  ropes,  running  from  choice  to  common 
horses,  all  of  which  were  looked  over  care- 
fully by  the  trio,  including  the  wagon  team. 
A  number  of  horses  were  under  saddle,  and 
led  by  the  foreman,  a  quartette  of  men  started 
in  advance  to  bunch  the  herd. 

Leaving  Forrest  at  the  camp,  Mr.  Lovell 
and  Joel  took  the  rig  and  leisurely  followed 
the  departing  horsemen.  "  This  is  one  of  the 
best  herds  on  the  market,"  said  the  old  drover 
to  the  boy,  "  and  I  Ve  kept  the  deal  pending, 
to  see  if  you  and  I  could  n't  buy  it  together.  It 
runs  full  thirty-five  hundred  cattle,  twelve  hun- 
dred threes  and  the  remainder  twos.  I  always 
buy  straight  two-year-olds  for  my  beef  ranch, 
because  I  double-winter  all  my  steer  cattle  — 
it  takes  two  winters  in  the  north  to  finish  these 
Texas  steers  right.  Now,  if  you  can  handle 
the  threes,  the  remnant  of  twos,  and  the  sad- 
dle stock,  we  '11  buy  the  herd,  lock,  stock,  and 
barrel.    The  threes  will  all  ship  out  as  four- 


254  WELLS   BROTHERS 

3^ear-old  beeves  next  fall,  and  you  can  double- 
winter  the  younger  cattle.  I  can  use  two  thou- 
sand of  the  two-year-olds,  and  if  you  care  for 
the  others,  after  we  look  them  over,  leave  me 
to  close  the  trade." 

"  Mr.  Lovell,  it  has  never  been  clear  to  me 
how  I  am  to  buy  cattle  without  money," 
earnestly  said  Joel. 

"  Leave  that  to  me  —  I  have  that  all  figured 
out.  If  we  buy  this  herd  together,  you  can 
ship  out  two  thousand  beef  cattle  next  fall, 
and  a  ranch  that  has  that  many  beeves  to  mar- 
ket a  year  hence,  can  buy,  with  or  without 
money,  any  herd  at  Dodge  to-day.  If  you  like 
the  cattle  and  want  them,  leave  it  all  to  me." 

"But  so  many  horses —  We  have  forty 
horses  already,"  protested  Joel. 

"  A  wide-awake  cowman,  in  this  upper 
country,  always  buys  these  southern  horses  a 
year  in  advance  of  when  he  needs  them.  Next 
year  you  '11  be  running  a  shipping  outfit,  mount- 
ing a  dozen  men,  sending  others  on  fall  round- 
ups, and  if  you  buy  your  horses  now,  you  '11 
have  them  in  the  pink  of  condition  then.  It's 
a  small  remuda,  a  few  under  sixty  horses,  as 
fifty  head  were  detailed  out  here  to  strengthen 
remudas  that  had  to  go  to  the  Yellowstone. 
This  foreman  will  tell  you  that  he  topped  out 
twenty-five  of  the  choice  horses  before  the 


A   PROTECTED   CREDIT         255 

other  trail  bosses  were  allowed  to  pick.  As 
the  remuda  stands,  its  make-up  is  tops  and 
tailings.  A  year  hence  one  will  be  as  good  as 
the  other.  You  '11  need  the  horses,  and  by  buy- 
ing down  to  the  blanket,  turning  the  owner 
foot-loose  and  free,  it  will  help  me  to  close 
the  trade,  in  our  mutual  interest." 

The  cattle  were  some  two  miles  distant, 
under  close  herd,  and  by  quietly  edging  them 
in  onto  a  few  hundred  acres,  they  could  be 
easily  looked  over  from  the  conveyance.  On 
the  arrival  of  the  prospective  buyers,  the  fore- 
man had  the  cattle  sufficiently  compact,  and 
the  old  man  and  the  boy  drove  back  and  forth 
through  the  herd  for  fully  an  hour.  They  were 
thrifty,  western  Texas  steers,  had  missed  the 
drouth  by  coming  into  the  trail  at  Camp  Sup- 
ply, and  were  all  that  could  be  desired  in 
range  cattle.  The  two  agreed  on  the  quality 
of  the  herd,  and  on  driving  out  from  among 
the  cattle,  the  foreman  was  signaled  up. 

"  One  of  my  outfits  arrived  from  the  Platte 
this  afternoon,"  said  Mr.  Lovell,  "and  we'll 
receive  to-morrow.  That  leaves  me  free  to 
pick  up  another  herd.  If  Dud  would  try  his 
best,  he  would  come  very  near  selling  me 
these  cattle.  I  've  got  a  buyer  in  sight  for  the 
threes  and  remnant  of  twos,  and  if  you  price 
the  horses  right,  we  might  leave  you  afoot. 


256  WELLS   BROTHERS 

If  you  see  Dudley  before  I  do,  tell  him  I 
looked  over  his  cattle  again." 

"  I  '11  see  him  to-night,"  said  the  foreman, 
calling  after  the  vehicle. 

Forrest  was  picked  up,  and  they  returned 
to  town.  The  fame  of  wicked  Dodge  never 
interfered  with  the  transaction  of  business,  its 
iniquity  catering  largely  to  the  rabble. 

"I'll  take  Joel  with  me,"  said  the  drover 
to  Forrest,  "  and  you  look  after  the  horses  and 
hang  around  the  hotel.  Dud  Stoddard  is  al- 
most sure  to  look  me  up,  and  if  you  meet  him, 
admit  that  we  looked  over  his  cattle  again. 
I  want  him  to  hound  me  into  buying  that 
herd." 

Joel's  taciturn  manner  stood  him  in  good 
stead.  He  was  alert  to  all  that  was  passing  and, 
except  with  Mr.  Lovell,  was  reticent  in  the 
extreme.  The  two  strolled  about  the  streets 
during  the  evening  hours,  and  on  returning 
to  the  hotel  rather  late,  Dudley  Stoddard  was 
awaiting  the  old  drover.  There  was  no  pre- 
lude to  the  matter  at  issue,  and  after  arrang- 
ing with  other  sellers  to  receive  the  following 
day,  Mr.  Lovell  led  the  way  to  his  room. 

"This  is  one  of  the  Wells  Brothers,"  said 
the  old  cowman,  presenting  Joel;  "one  of  the 
boys  who  watered  the  drive  on  the  Beaver 
this  summer.    I  was  up  on  his  ranch  about  a 


A   PROTECTED   CREDIT         257 

month  ago,  and  gave  him  a  good  scolding  for 
not  stocking  his  range  somewhere  near  its 
carrying  capacity.  He  's  the  buyer  I  had  in 
view  for  your  three-year-olds.  You  offered 
me  the  herd,  on  time,  and  at  satisfactory 
prices.  I  can  use  two  thousand  of  the  twos, 
and  Wells  Brothers  will  take  the  remainder, 
and  we  '11  turn  you  afoot.  Say  so,  and  your 
herd  is  sold." 

"Well,"  said  Mr.  Stoddard,  somewhat  em- 
barrassed, "  I  don't  happen  to  know  the  Wells 
Brothers  —  and  I  usually  know  men  when 
I  extend  them  a  credit.  This  boy  —  Well, 
I  'm  not  in  the  habit  of  dealing  with  boys." 

"  You  and  I  were  boys  once  and  had  to 
make  our  start,"  testily  replied  Mr.  Lovell, 
pacing  the  room.  "  The  Wells  Brothers  are 
making  the  fight  that  you  and  I  were  making 
twenty  years  ago.  In  our  early  struggles,  had 
some  one  stood  behind  us,  merely  stood  be- 
hind us,  it  might  have  been  different  with  us 
to-day.  And  now  when  I  don't  need  no  help 
—  Dud,  it  don't  cost  much  to  help  others. 
These  boys  have  proven  themselves  white,  to 
yours  and  to  my  men  and  to  yours  and  to 
my  cattle.  Is  there  nothing  we  can  do?" 

Mr.  Stoddard  turned  to  the  old  drover. 
"  I  '11  renew  my  last  offer  to  you.  Take  the 
herd  and  sell  these  boys  the  older  cattle  and 


258  WELLS   BROTHERS 

remnants.  You  know  the  brothers — you  know 
their  resources." 

"No!  "  came  the  answer  like  a  rifle-shot. 

"Then,  will  you  stand  sponsor  —  will  you 
go  their  security  ?  " 

"No!  These  boj^s  can't  send  home  for 
money  nor  can't  borrow  any.  Their  only  as- 
set is  their  ability  to  hold  and  mature  cattle. 
Last  winter,  the  most  severe  one  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  West,  the}^  lost  two  per  cent  of 
their  holdings.  Neither  you  nor  I  can  make 
as  good  a  showing  on  any  of  our  ranges.  Dud, 
what  I  'm  trying  to  do  is  to  throw  on  this 
boy's  shoulders  the  responsibility  oi 'paying 
for  any  cattle  he  buys.  At  his  age  it  would 
be  wrong  to  rob  him  of  that  important  lesson. 
Let's  you  and  I  stand  behind  him,  and  let's 
see  to  it  that  he  makes  the  right  effort  to  pro- 
tect his  credit." 

"That's  different,"  admitted  Mr.  Stoddard. 
"Don,  if  you  '11  suggest  the  means  to  that  end, 
I  '11  try  and  meet  you  halfway." 

Mr.  Lovell  took  a  seat  at  the  table  and 
picked  up  a  blank  sheet  of  paper.  "  As  mutual 
friends,"  said  he,  "  let  me  draw  up,  from  seller 
to  buyer,  an  iron-clad  bill  of  sale.  Its  first 
clause  will  be  a  vendor's  lien  for  the  cost  of 
the  cattle,  horses,  etc.  Its  second  will  be  the 
appointment  of  a  commission  house,  who  will 


A   PROTECTED   CREDIT         259 

act  as  agent,  hold  this  contract,  and  receive 
the  beeves  when  ready  for  shipment  to  mar- 
ket. Its  third  clause  will  be  your  right,  as 
creditor  in  a  sale  of  chattel,  to  place  a  man  of 
your  own  selection  on  Wells  Brothers'  ranch, 
under  their  pay  and  subject  to  their  orders. 
As  your  representative,  the  privilege  is  granted 
of  making  a  daily,  weekly,  or  monthly  report 
to  you  of  the  condition  of  the  cattle  and  the 
general  outlook  of  the  buyers  to  meet  this, 
their  covenant  with  the  seller,  before  Novem- 
ber I,  1887. 

"  I  would  n't  enter  into  such  a  contract  with 
you,"  continued  Mr.  Lovell,  throwing  down 
the  sheet  of  paper,  "  but  I  want  this  boy  to 
learn  the  value  of  a  well-protected  credit.  At 
his  time  of  life,  it 's  an  asset.  I  '11  pay  for  my 
half  when  it 's  convenient,  but  I  want  him  to 
meet  his  first  obligation  on  or  before  the  day  of 
maturity.  I  can  speak  for  the  boy's  willingness 
to  make  such  a  contract.  What  do  you  say?" 

"  Delivery  here  or  elsewhere  ?  "  inquired 
Mr.  Stoddard. 

"  My  half  here,  within  three  days,  the  re- 
mainder on  the  Beaver,  a  seven  days'  drive. 
It  won't  cost  you  a  cent  more  to  send  your 
outfit  home  from  Grinnell  than  from  Dodge. 
Ten  days  will  end  all  your  trouble.  What  do 
you  say  ?  " 


26o  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"Don,  let  me  talk  the  matter  over  with  you 
privately,"  said  Mr.  Stoddard,  arising.  "  The 
boy  will  excuse  us.  We  '11  give  him  a  square 
deal." 

The  two  old  men  left  the  room.  Forrest 
arose  from  a  couch  and  threw  his  arms  around 
Joel.  "  It 's  a  sale ! "  he  whispered.  "  The  cat- 
tle's  yours!  That  old  man  of  mine  will  ride 
Dud  Stoddard  all  around  the  big  corral  and 
spur  him  in  the  flank  at  every  jump,  unless 
he  comes  to  those  terms.  An  iron-clad  bill  of 
sale  is  its  own  surety.  You  '11  need  the  man, 
anyhow.  I  want  to  give  the  long  yell." 

Mr.  Lovell  returned  after  midnight,  and 
alone.  Forrest  and  Joel  arose  to  meet  him, 
inquiry  and  concern  in  every  look  and  ac- 
tion. 

"  Take  Joel  and  get  out  of  here,"  said  the 
old  drover,  whose  twinkling  eyes  could  not 
conceal  the  gloating  within.  "  I  Ve  got  to  draw 
up  that  bill  of  sale.  Just  as  if  those  steers 
would  n't  pay  for  themselves  next  fall.  Get 
to  bed,  you  rascals!  " 

"  Would  there  be  any  harm  if  I  went  down 
to  the  bank  of  the  river  and  gave  the  long 
yell  ? "  inquired  Forrest,  as  he  halted  in  the 
doorway. 

"Get  to  bed,"  urged  the  old  drover.  "I'll 
want  you  in  the  morning.  We  '11  close  a  trade, 


A  PROTECTED  CREDIT        261 

the  first  thing,  on  fifteen  hundred  of  those 
Womack  twos.  That  '11  give  you  a  herd,  and 
you  can  keep  an  eye  over  Joel's  cattle  'until 
the  Beaver  's  reached." 

During  the  few  days  which  followed,  Joel 
Wells  was  thrown  in  contact  with  the  many 
features  of  a  range  cattle  market.  In  all  the 
migrations  of  mankind,  strictly  cattle  towns 
like  Dodge  City  and  Ogalalla  are  unknown. 
They  were  the  product  of  all  pastoral  ages, 
reaching  a  climax  on  American  soil,  and  not 
of  record  in  any  other  country  or  time.  Joel 
let  little  escape  him.  Here  men  bought  and 
sold  by  the  thousand  head,  in  his  day  and 
generation,  and  he  was  a  part  of  that  epoch. 

The  necessary  number  of  cattle  to  complete 
a  herd  for  Forrest  were  purchased  without 
leaving  town.  The  afternoon  was  spent  in  re- 
ceiving a  herd,  in  which  the  veteran  drover 
took  a  hand,  assisted  by  two  competent  fore- 
men. Every  feature  in  the  cattle,  the  why  and 
wherefore,  was  pointed  out  by  the  trio,  to 
the  eager,  earnest  boy,  so  that  the  lesson  sunk 
into  Joel's  every  fibre.  The  beauty  of  the  first 
herd  received  was  in  the  uniform  average  of 
each  animal,  when  ages,  class,  and  build  gov- 
erned selection. 

Forrest's  outfit  arrived  that  evening,  and 
without  even  a  day's  rest  arrangements  were 


262  WELLS   BROTHERS 

made  to  receive  the  two  contingents  the  next 
morning.  When  it  came  to  receive  the  Stod- 
dard herd,  the  deftness  with  which  the  two 
outfits  classified  the  cattle  was  only  short  of 
marvelous.  The  threes  were  cut  out,  and  each 
age  counted.  The  over-plus  of  the  younger 
cattle  were  cut  back,  and  the  contingents  were 
tendered  on  delivery.  The  papers  were  ready, 
executed  on  the  ground,  and  the  herds  started, 
the  smaller  in  the  lead. 

The  drive  to  the  Beaver  was  without  inci- 
dent. Forrest  spent  most  of  his  time  with 
the  little  herd,  which  used  only  eight  men, 
counting  Joel,  who  stood  guard  at  night  and 
made  a  hand.  The  herd  numbered  a  few  over 
fifteen  hundred  cattle,  the  remuda  fifty-six 
horses,  a  team  and  wagon,  the  total  contract 
price  of  which  was  a  trifle  under  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars.  It  looked  like  a  serious  obli- 
gation for  two  boys  to  assume,  but  practical 
men  had  sanctioned  it,  and  it  remained  for 
the  ability  of  Wells  Brothers  to  meet  it. 

On  nearing  the  Beaver,  the  lead  herd  under 
Bob  Quirk  took  the  new  trail,  which  crossed 
at  the  ranch.  On  their  leaving  the  valley,  a  re- 
mark was  dropped,  unnoticed  by  Dell,  but  sig- 
nificant to  Jack  Sargent.  It  resulted  in  the  two 
riding  out  on  the  trail,  only  to  meet  the  pur- 
chased cattle,  Joel  on  one  point  and  Forrest 


A   PROTECTED   CREDIT         263 

on  the  other,  directing  the  herds  to  the  tanks 
below.  The  action  bespoke  its  intent,  and  on 
meeting  Forrest,  the  latter  jerked  his  thumb 
over  his  shoulder,  remarking, "  Drop  back  and 
pilot  the  wagon  and  remuda  into  the  ranch. 
We  're  taking  this  passel  of  cattle  into  the 
new  tanks,  and  will  scatter  them  up  and  down 
the  creek.  Lovell's  cattle  ?  No.  Old  man  Joel 
Wells  bought  these  to  stock  his  ranch.  See 
how  chesty  it  makes  him  —  he  won't  even 
look  this  way.  You  boys  may  have  to  sit  up 
with  him  a  few  nights  at  first,  but  he  '11  get 
over  that.  Pilot  in  the  remuda.  You  two  are 
slated  to  take  this  outfit  to  the  railroad  to- 
night. Trail  along,  my  beauties;  Wells  Bro- 
thers are  shaking  out  a  right  smart  bit  of  sail 
these  days." 


CHAPTER   XVII 


"the  wagon" 


THE  little  ranch  had  assumed  a  con- 
tract and  must  answer  at  the  ap- 
pointed time.  If  the  brothers  could 
meet  their  first  commercial  obligation,  it 
would  establish  their  standing,  and  to  that 
end  every  energy  must  be  directed.  They 
were  extremely  fortunate  in  the  advice  and 
help  of  two  young  men  bred  to  the  occupa- 
tion, and  whose  every  interest  lay  in  making 
a  success  of  the  ranch. 

The  trail  outfit  returned  to  the  railroad  that 
night.  Everything  was  abandoned  but  their 
saddles  —  burning  the  wagon  —  while  Joe 
Manly,  one  of  their  number,  remained  be- 
hind. Manly  was  not  even  the  foreman,  and 
on  taking  his  departure  the  trail  boss,  in  the 
presence  of  all,  said  to  his  man,  "  Now,  Joe, 
turn  yourself  over  to  this  ranch  and  make  a 
useful  hand.  Drop  old  man  Dudley  a  line 
whenever  you  have  a  chance.  It 's  quite  a  lit- 
tle ride  to  the  station,  and  we  '11  understand 
that  no  news  is  good  news.  And  once  you 
see  that  these  cattle  are  going  to  winter  safely, 


THE   WAGON  26^; 

better  raise  the  long  yell  and  come  home.  You 
can  drift  back  in  the  fall  —  during  the  beef- 
shipping  season.  I  may  write  you  when  next 
summer's  plans  begin  to  unfold." 

Accompanied  by  Dell  and  Sargent,  and 
singing  the  home  songs  of  the  South,  the  out- 
fit faded  away  into  the  night.  Forrest's  herd 
had  watered  during  the  evening,  and  moved 
out  to  a  safe  camp,  leaving  its  foreman  on  the 
Beaver.  He  and  Manly  discussed  the  situa- 
tion, paving  the  way  in  detail,  up  to  the  man- 
ner of  holding  the  cattle  during  the  coming 
winter.  With  numbers  exceeding  three  thou- 
sand, close  herd  and  corralling  at  night  was 
impossible,  and  the  riding  of  lines,  with  an 
extra  camp,  admitting  of  the  widest  freedom, 
was  decided  on  as  the  most  feasible  method. 
The  new  camp  must  be  located  well  above 
Hackberry  Grove,  and  to  provision  it  for  man 
and  horse  was  one  of  the  many  details  out- 
lined in  meeting  the  coming  winter.  Joel  was 
an  attentive  listener,  and  having  held  cattle 
by  one  system,  he  fully  understood  the  neces- 
sity of  adopting  some  other  manner  of  re- 
straint. In  locating  cattle,  where  there  was 
danger  of  drifting  from  any  cause,  the  method 
of  riding  lines  was  simple  and  easily  under- 
stood —  to  patrol  the  line  liable  to  assault 
from  drifting  cattle. 


266  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Forrest  was  elated  over  the  outlook.  On 
leaving  the  next  morning,  he  turned  his  horse 
and  rode  back  to  the  tent.  "  This  maybe  the  last 
time  I  '11  come  this  way,"  said  he  to  Joel,  "as 
there  is  talk  of  the  trail  moving  west.  On  ac- 
count of  fever,  this  State  threatens  to  quaran- 
tine against  Texas  cattle.  If  it  does,  the  trail 
will  have  to  move  over  into  Colorado  or  hunt 
a  new  route  through  unorganized  counties  on 
the  western  line  of  Kansas.  In  event  of  quar- 
antine being  enforced,  it  means  a  bigger  range 
for  Wells  Brothers.  Of  course,  this  is  only 
your  second  year  in  cattle,  just  getting  a  firm 
grip  on  the  business,  but  I  can  see  a  big  future 
for  you  boys.  As  cowmen,  you  're  just  in 
swaddling  clothes  3'et,  toddling  around  on 
your  first  legs,  but  the  outlook  is  rosy.  Hold 
these  cattle  this  winter,  protect  your  credit 
next  fall,  and  it  does  n't  matter  if  I  never  come 
back.  A  year  hence  you  '11  have  a  bank  ac- 
count, be  living  on  the  sunny  side  of  the  creek, 
and  as  long  as  you  stick  to  cows,  through  thick 
and  thin,  nothing  can  unhorse  you." 

The  trail  foreman  rode  away  to  overtake  his 
herd,  and  Joel  and  Manly  busied  themselves 
in  locating  the  new  cattle.  Dell  and  Sargent 
accompanied  the  last  Lovell  herd  into  the 
ranch  that  evening,  and  it  proved  to  be  the 
rear  guard  of  trail  cattle  for  that  summer. 


THE   WAGON  267 

The  ranch  was  set  in  order  for  the  present. 
The  dead-line  was  narrowed  to  a  mile,  which 
admitted  of  fully  half  the  through  cattle  water- 
ing at  the  beaver  ponds  around  headquarters. 
The  new  remuda,  including  all  horses  acquired 
that  summer,  to  the  number  of  eighty  head, 
was  moved  up  to  Hackberry  Grove  and  freed 
for  the  year.  The  wintered  horses  furnished 
ample  saddle  mounts  for  the  present,  there 
being  little  to  do,  as  the  water  held  the  new 
cattle  and  no  herding  was  required.  The  heat 
of  summer  was  over,  the  water  held  in  tanks 
and  beaver  dams,  and  the  ranch  settled  down 
in  pastoral  security. 

Under  the  new  outline  for  the  winter,  an 
increased  amount  of  forage  must  be  provided, 
as  in  riding  lines  two  grain-fed  horses  to  the 
man  was  the  lowest  limit  in  mounting  all  line- 
riders.  Machinery  was  available  on  the  rail- 
road, and  taking  a  team,  Joel  returned  with  a 
new  mowing  machine,  and  the  matter  of  pro- 
viding abundant  forage  was  easily  met.  Suffi- 
cient hay,  from  a  few  bends  of  the  creek,  in 
dead-line  territory,  supplied  the  home  ranch, 
and  a  week's  encampment  above  Hackberry 
Grove  saw  the  site  of  the  new  line-camp 
equipped  with  winter  forage. 

While  engaged  on  the  latter  task,  a  new 
feature  was   introduced   on  Wells  Brothers' 


268  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ranch.  A  movable  commissary  is  a  distinct 
aid  to  any  pastoral  occupation,  and  hence  the 
-wagon  becomes  a  cowman's  home  and  castle. 
From  it  he  dispenses  a  rough  hospitality, 
welcomes  the  wayfarer,  and  exchanges  the 
chronicle  of  the  range.  The  wagon,  which  had 
been  acquired  with  the  new  herd  and  used  on 
the  above  occasion,  was  well  equipped  with 
canvas  cover,  water  barrels,  and  a  convenient 
chuck-box  at  the  rear.  The  latter  was  fitted 
with  drawers  and  compartments  as  conven- 
iently as  a  kitchen.  When  open,  the  lid  of  the 
box  afforded  a  table;  when  closed,  it  pro- 
tected the  contents  from  the  outer  elements. 
The  wagon  thus  becomes  home  to  nomadic 
man  and  animal,  the  one  equal  with  the  other. 
Saddle  horses,  when  frightened  at  night,  will 
rush  to  the  safety  of  a  camp-fire  and  the  pro- 
tection of  their  masters,  and  therefore  a  closer 
bond  exists  between  the  men  of  the  open  and 
their  mounts  than  under  more  refined  sur- 
roundings. 

Early  in  September  a  heavy  rain  fell  in  the 
west,  extending  down  the  Beaver,  flushing 
the  creek  and  providing  an  abundance  of  run- 
ning water.  It  was  followed  by  early  frosts, 
lifting  the  dead-line  and  ushering  in  Indian 
summer.  With  forage  secure,  attention  was 
turned  to  the  cattle.  The  purchase  of  a  mow- 


THE   WAGON  269 

ing  machine  had  exhausted  the  funds  derived 
from  the  sale  of  peltry,  and  a  shipment  of  cat- 
tle was  decided  on  to  provide  the  munitions 
for  the  coming  winter.  The  wagon  was  ac- 
cordingly provisioned  for  a  week,  the  blankets 
stored  in  the  commissary,  and  the  quartette 
moved  out  to  round  up  the  wintered  cattle. 
They  had  not  been  handled  since  the  spring 
drift  of  March  before,  and  when  thrown  into  a 
compact  herd,  they  presented  a  different  ap- 
pearance from  the  spiritless  cattle  of  six  months 
previous.  A  hundred  calves,  timid  as  fawns, 
shied  from  the  horsemen,  their  mothers  lowed 
in  comforting  concern,  the  beeves  waddled 
about  from  carrying  their  own  flesh,  while  the 
patriarchs  of  the  herd  bellowed  in  sullen  de- 
fiance. Fifty  of  the  heaviest  beeves  were  cut 
out  from  the  —  Y  brand,  flesh  governing  the 
selection,  and  the  first  shipment  of  cattle  left 
the  Beaver  for  eastern  markets. 

Four  days  were  required  to  graze  the  heavy 
cattle  down  to  the  railroad.  Dell  drove  the 
wagon,  Sargent  was  intrusted  with  the  remuda, 
the  two  others  grazing  the  beeves,  while  each 
took  his  turn  in  standing  guard  at  night. 
Water  was  plentiful,  cars  were  in  waiting,  and 
on  reaching  the  railroad,  the  cattle  were  cor« 
railed  in  the  shipping  pens. 

Joel  and  Manly  accompanied  the  shipment 


270  WELLS   BROTHERS 

to  Kansas  City.  The  beeves  were  consigned 
to  the  firm  mentioned  in  the  bill  of  sale  as 
factor  in  marketing  and  settlement  of  the  herd 
which  had  recently  passed  from  the  possession 
of  Mr.  Stoddard  to  that  of  Wells  Brothers. 
The  two  cars  of  cattle  found  a  ready  sale,  the 
weights  revealing  a  surprise,  attracting  the  at- 
tention of  packers  and  salesmen  to  the  quality 
of  beef  from  the  Beaver  valley. 

"  Give  me  the  cattle  from  the  short-grass 
country,"  said  a  salesman  to  a  packer,  as  Wells 
Brothers'  beeves  were  crossing  the  weighing 
scale.  "  You  and  I  need  n't  worry  about  the 
question  of  range — the  buffalo  knew.  Catch 
the  weights  of  these  cattle  and  compare  it  with 
range  beef  from  the  sedge-grass  and  mountain 
country.  Tallow  tells  its  own  story  —  the 
buffalo  knew  the  best  range." 

An  acquaintance  with  the  commission  house 
was  established  on  a  mutual  basis.  The  senior 
member  of  the  firm,  a  practical  old  man,  de- 
tained Joel  and  Manly  in  his  private  office  for 
an  hour. 

"  This  market  is  alert  to  every  new  section 
having  cattle  to  ship,"  said  the  old  man  to  Joel, 
studying  a  sales  statement.  "The  Solomon 
River  country  sent  in  some  cattle  last  fall,  but 
yours  is  the  first  shipment  from  the  Beaver. 
Our  salesman  reports  3^our  consignment  the 


THE   WAGON  271 

fattest  range  beeves  on  to-day's  market.  And 
these  weights  confirm  the  statement.  I  don't 
understand  it.  What  kind  of  a  country  have 
you  out  there  ?  " 

Joel  gave  Manly  an  appealing  ^ook.  "It's 
the  plains,"  answered  the  latter.  "It's  an  old 
buffalo  range.  You  can  see  their  skulls  by  the 
thousand.  It's  a  big  country;  it  just  swells, 
and  dips,  and  rolls  away." 

It  was  the  basis  of  a  range  which  interested 
the  senior  member.  "The  grasses,  the 
grasses  ?  "  he  repeated.  "  What  are  your  na- 
tive grasses  ?  " 

"  Oh,  just  plain,  every-day  buffalo  grass," 
answered  Manly.  "  Of  course,  here  and  there, 
in  the  bends  of  the  Beaver,  there's  a  little  blue- 
stem,  enough  for  winter  forage  for  the  saddle 
stock.  The  cattle  won't  touch  it." 

The  last  of  many  subjects  discussed  was  the 
existing  contract,  of  which  the  commission 
firm  was  the  intermediary  factor.  The  details 
were  gone  over  carefully,  the  outlook  for  next 
year's  shipments  reviewed,  and  on  taking  their 
leave,  the  old  man  said  to  his  guests:  — 

"  Well,  I  'm  pleased  over  the  outlook.  The 
firm  have  had  letters  from  both  Mr.  Lovell 
and  Mr.  Stoddard,  and  now  that  I  've  gone  over 
the  situation,  with  the  boys  in  the  saddle,  every- 
thing is  clear  and  satisfactory.  Next  year's  ship- 


272  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ments  will  take  care  of  the  contract.  Keep  in 
touch  with  us,  and  we  '11  advise  you  from  time 
to  time.  Ship  your  cattle  in  finished  condition, 
and  they'll  make  a  market  for  themselves. 
We'll  expect  you  early  next  summer." 

"  Our  first  shipment  will  be  two  hundred 
double-wintered  cattle,"  modestly  admitted 
Joel. 

"  They  ought  to  be  ready  a  full  month  in 
advance  of  your  single-wintered  beeves,"  said 
the  old  man,  from  his  practical  knowledge  in 
maturing  beef.  "  Ship  them  early.  The  book- 
keeper has  your  account  all  ready." 

Joel  and  Manly  were  detained  at  the  business 
office  only  a  moment.  The  beeves  had  netted 
thirty-five  dollars  a  head,  and  except  for  cur- 
rent expenses,  the  funds  were  left  on  deposit 
with  the  commission  house,  as  there  were  no 
banks  near  home;  the  account  was  subject  to 
draft,  and  accepting  a  small  advance  in  cur- 
rency, the  boys  departed.  A  brief  hour's  shop- 
ping was  indulged  in,  the  principal  purchases 
being  two  long-range  rifles,  cartridges  and 
poison  in  abundance,  when  they  hastened  to 
the  depot  and  caught  a  west-bound  train. 
Horses  had  been  left  at  Grinnell,  and  at  even- 
ing the  next  day  the  two  rode  into  head- 
quarters on  the  Beaver. 

Bej'ond  question  there  are  tides  in  the  affairs 


THE   WAGON  273 

of  men.  With  the  first  shipment  of  cattle  from 
the  little  ranch,  poverty  fled  and  an  air  of  in- 
dependence indicated  the  turn  in  the  swing  of 
the  pendulum.  Practical  men,  in  every  avenue 
of  the  occupation,  had  lent  their  indorsement 
to  the  venture  of  the  brothers,  the  mettle  of  the 
pasture  had  been  tested  in  the  markets,  and  the 
future,  with  reasonable  vigilance,  rested  on 
sure  foundations. 

The  turn  of  the  tide  was  noticeable  at  once. 
"  I  really  think  Uncle  Dud  would  let  me  come 
home,"  said  Manly  to  the  others,  at  supper. 
"There  's  no  occasion  for  my  staying  here  this 
winter.  Besides,  I'm  a  tender  plant;  I'm 
as  afraid  of  cold  as  a  darky  is  of  thunder. 
Would  n't  I  like  to  get  a  letter  from  Uncle 
Dud  saying,  '  Come  home,  my  little  white 
chicken,  come  home! '  " 

"  You  can  go  in  the  spring,"  said  Joel. 
"  We  're  going  to  use  four  line-riders  this 
winter,  and  there 's  every  reason  why  you  '11 
make  a  trusty  one ! " 

"That's  one  of  the  owners  talking,"  ob- 
served Sargent;  "  now  listen  to  the  foreman's 
orders:  The  next  thing  is  to  brand  every  hoof 
up  to  date.  Then,  at  the  upper  line-camp, 
comes  the  building  of  a  new  dug-out  and  sta- 
bling for  four  horses.  And  lastly,  freight  in 
plenty  of  corn.  After  that,  if  we  fail  to  hold  the 


274  WELLS   BROTHERS 

cattle,  it's  our  own  fault.  No  excuse  will  pass 
muster.  Hold  these  cattle?  It's  a  dead  im- 
mortal cinch!  Joseph  dear,  make  yourself  a 
useful  guest  for  the  winter." 

A  hopeful  spirit  lightened  every  task.  The 
calves  and  their  mothers  were  brought  down 
to  the  home  corral  and  branded  in  a  single 
day.  The  Stoddard  cattle,  the  title  being  con- 
ditional, were  exempt,  the  Lazy  H  ranch  brand 
fully  protecting  mutual  interests.  Only  cripple, 
fagged,  and  stray  cattle  were  branded,  the  lat- 
ter numbering  less  than  a  hundred  head,  and 
were  run  into  the  Hospital  brand,  while  the 
remainder  bore  the  —  Y  of  the  ranch.  The 
work  was  completed  within  a  week,  Dell 
making  a  hand  which  proved  his  nerve,  either 
in  the  saddle  or  branding  pen. 

The  first  week  in  October  was  devoted  to 
building  the  new  dug-out  and  stable.  The 
wagon  was  provisioned,  every  implement  and 
tool  on  the  ranch,  from  a  hammer  to  a  plough, 
was  taken  along,  as  well  as  the  remuda,  and 
the  quartette  sallied  forth  to  the  task  as  if  it 
were  a  frolic.  The  site  had  been  decided  on 
during  the  haying,  and  on  reaching  the  scene, 
the  tent  was  set  up,  and  the  building  of  a 
shelter  for  man  and  horse  was  begun. 

The  dug-out  of  the  West  is  built  for  com- 
fort,—  half  cellar  and  the  remainder  sod  walls. 


THE   WAGON  275 

A  southern  slope  was  selected ;  an  abrupt 
break  or  low  bank  was  taken  advantage  of,  ad- 
mitting of  four-foot  cellar  walls  on  three  sides, 
the  open  end  inclosed  with  massive  sod  walls 
and  containing  the  door.  The  sod  was  broken 
by  a  team  and  plough,  cut  into  lengths  like 
brick,  and  the  outside  walls  raised  to  the  de- 
sired height.  For  roofing,  a  heavy  ridge-pole 
was  cut  the  length  of  the  room,  resting  on  stout 
upright  posts.  Lighter  poles  were  split  and  laid 
compactly,  like  rafters,  sheeted  with  hay,  and 
covered  with  loose  dirt  to  the  depth  of  a  foot. 
The  floor  was  earthen;  a  half  window  east  and 
west,  supplemented  by  a  door  in  the  south,  ad- 
mitted light,  making  a  cosy,  comfortable  shel- 
ter. A  roomy  stable  was  built  on  the  same 
principle  and  from  the  same  material. 

The  work  was  completed  quickly,  fuel  for 
the  winter  gathered,  when  the  quartette  started 
homeward.  "It  looks  like  the  halfway  house 
at  Land's  End,"  said  Manly,  turning  for  a  last 
look  at  the  new  improvements.  "What  are 
you  going  to  call  the  new  tepee  ?  " 

"  Going  to  call  it  The  Wagon,"  answered 
Sargent,  he  and  Dell  having  accepted  the  new 
line-camp  as  their  winter  quarters,  "and  let 
the  latch-string  hang  on  the  outside.  When- 
ever you  can,  you  must  bring  your  knitting 
and  come  over." 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

AN   OPEN   WINTER 

A    N  ideal  Indian  summer  was  enjoyed. 

/%  Between  the  early  and  late  fall  frosts, 
A  m  the  range  matured  into  perfect  winter 
pasturage.  Light  rains  in  September  freshened 
the  buffalo  grass  until  it  greened  on  the  sunny 
slopes,  cured  into  hay  as  the  fall  advanced, 
thus  assuring  abundant  forage  to  the  cattle. 

Manly  was  the  only  one  of  the  quartette  not 
inured  to  a  northern  climate.  A  winter  in 
Montana  had  made  Sargent  proof  against  any 
cold,  while  the  brothers  were  native  to  that 
latitude  if  not  to  the  plains.  After  building 
the  line-camp  and  long  before  occupying  it,  the 
quartette  paired  off,  Sargent  and  Dell  claim- 
ing the  new  dug-out,  while  the  other  two  were 
perfectl}^  content  with  the  old  shack  at  head- 
quarters. A  healthy  spirit  of  rivalry  sprang 
up,  extending  from  a  division  of  the  horses 
down  to  a  fair  assignment  of  the  blankets. 

Preparations  for  and  a  constant  reference  to 
the  coming  winter  aroused  a  dread  in  Manly. 
"You  remind  me  of  our  darky  cook,"  said 
Sargent,  "  up  on  the  Yellowstone  a  few  years 


AN  OPEN   WINTER  277 

ago.  Half  the  trail  outfit  were  detailed  until 
frost,  to  avoid  fever  and  to  locate  the  cattle, 
and  of  course  the  cook  had  to  stay.  A  squall 
of  snow  caught  us  in  camp,  and  that  poor 
darky  just  pined  away.  '  Boss,'  he  used  to  say 
to  the  foreman,  shivering  over  the  fire,  'ah's 
got  to  go  home.  Ah  's  subjec'  to  de  rheuma- 
tics. Mah  fambly  's  a-gwine  to  be  pow'ful  un- 
easy 'bout  me.  Dis-a-yere  country  am  no  place 
fo'  a  po'  ol'  niggah.' " 

Two  teams  were  employed  in  freighting  in 
the  corn,  four  round  trips  being  required,  Joel 
and  Manly  assuming  the  work.  Supplies  for 
the  winter  were  brought  in  at  the  same  time, 
among  the  first  of  which  were  four  sacks  of 
salt;  and  the  curing  of  two  barrels  of  corned 
beef  fell  a  pleasant  task  to  Dell  and  his  part- 
ner. There  was  nothing  new  in  pickling  the 
meat,  and  with  the  exception  of  felling  the 
beeves,  the  incident  passed  as  part  of  the  day's 
work.  Dell  claimed  the  privilege  of  making 
the  shots,  which  Sargent  granted,  but  exer- 
cised sufficient  caution  to  corral  the  beeves. 
Both  fell  in  their  tracks,  and  the  novice  gained 
confidence  in  his  skill  in  the  use  of  a  rifle. 

The  first  of  December  was  agreed  on  to 
begin  the  riding  of  lines.  That  date  found 
all  the  new  cattle  drifted  above  headquarters, 
and  as  it  was  some  ten  miles  to  the  upper 


278  WELLS   BROTHERS 

line-camp,  an  extremely  liberal  range  was  al- 
lowed the  herd.  Eight  of  the  best  wintered 
horses  were  stabled,  and  at  first  the  line  was 
maintained  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Beaver. 
An  outer  line  was  agreed  upon,  five  miles  to 
the  south;  but  until  the  season  forced  the  cat- 
tle to  the  shelter  of  the  valley,  the  inner  one 
was  kept  under  patrol.  The  outer  was  a  purely 
imaginary  line,  extending  in  an  immense  half- 
circle,  from  headquarters  to  the  new  line-camp 
above.  It  followed  the  highest  ground,  and 
marked  the  utmost  limit  on  the  winter  range 
on  the  south.  Any  sign  or  trace  of  cattle 
crossing  it,  drifting  before  a  storm  or  grazing 
at  leisure,  must  be  turned  back  or  trailed 
down. 

The  first  and  second  weeks  passed,  the 
weather  continuing  fine.  Many  of  the  cattle 
ranged  two  and  three  miles  north  of  the  creek, 
not  even  coming  in  to  water  oftener  than 
every  other  day.  Several  times  the  horsemen 
circled  to  the  north;  but  as  ranging  wide  was 
an  advantage,  the  cattle  were  never  disturbed. 
A  light  fall  of  soft  snow  even  failed  to  bring 
the  cattle  into  the  valley. 

Christmas  week  was  ushered  in  with  a  dis- 
play of  animal  instinct.  The  through  and  win- 
tered cattle  had  mixed  and  mingled,  the  latter 
fat  and  furred,  forging  to  the  front  in  rangmg 


AN   OPEN   WINTER  279 

northward,  and  instinctively  leading  their 
brethren  to  shelter  in  advance  of  the  first 
storm.  Between  the  morning  and  evening 
patrol  of  a  perfect  day,  the  herd,  of  its  own 
accord,  drifted  into  the  valley,  the  leaders 
rioting  in  a  wild  frolic.  Their  appearance 
hastened  the  patrol  of  the  inner  line  by  an 
hour,  every  nook  and  shelter,  including  the 
old  corral,  being  filled  with  frolicsome  cattle. 
The  calves  were  engaging  each  other  in  mimic 
fights,  while  the  older  cattle  were  scarring 
every  exposed  bank,  or  matting  their  fore- 
heads in  clay  and  soft  dirt. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ? "  inquired  Joel, 
hailing  Sargent,  when  the  line-riders  met. 

"It  means  that  we'll  ride  the  outside  line 
in  the  morning,"  came  the  reply.  "  There  's  a 
storm  coming  within  twelve  hours.  At  least, 
the  herd  say  so." 

"What  can  we  do?" 

"Leave  that  to  the  cattle.  They '11  not  quit 
the  valley  unless  driven  out  by  a  storm.  The 
instinct  that  teaches  them  of  the  coming  storm 
also  teaches  them  how  to  meet  it.  They'll 
bed  in  the  blue-stem  to-night,  or  hunt  a  cosy 
nook  under  some  cut-bank." 

A  meeting  point  on  the  outer  line,  for  the 
next  morning,  was  agreed  upon,  when  the 
horsemen   separated  for  the  evening.    "  Get 


28o  WELLS   BROTHERS 

out  early,  and  keep  your  eyes  open  for  any 
trace  of  cattle  crossing  the  line/'  Sargent 
called  back,  as  he  reined  homeward.  "Dell 
and  I  will  leave  The  Wagon  at  daybreak." 

The  storm  struck  between  midnight  and 
morning.  Dawn  revealed  an  angry  horizon, 
accompanied  by  a  raw,  blue-cold,  cutting  wind 
from  the  north.  On  leaving  their  quarters,  both 
patrols  caught  the  storm  on  an  angle,  edging 
in  to  follow  the  circle,  their  mounts  snorting 
defiance  and  warming  to  the  work  in  resisting 
the  bitter  morning.  The  light  advanced  slowly, 
a  sifting  frost  filled  the  air,  obscuring  the 
valley,  and  not  until  the  slope  to  the  south  was 
reached  was  the  situation  known. 

No  cattle  were  in  sight  or  adrift.  Within  an 
hour  after  leaving  the  line-camp,  the  experi- 
enced eye  of  Sargent  detected  a  scattering 
trace  where  an  unknown  number  of  cattle  had 
crossed  the  line.  Both  he  and  Dell  dismounted, 
and  after  studying  the  trail,  its  approach  and 
departure,  the  range-bred  man  was  able  to  give 
a  perfect  summary  of  the  situation. 

"There's  between  fifty  and  a  hundred  head 
in  this  drift,"  remarked  Sargent,  as  the  two  re- 
mounted. "  They  're  through  cattle;  the  storm 
must  have  caught  them  on  the  divide,  north  of 
the  Beaver.  They  struck  the  creek  in  the  flats 
and  were  driven  out  of  the  valley.  The  trail 's 


AN  OPEN  WINTER  281 

not  over  two  hours  old.  Ride  the  line  until 
you  meet  the  other  boys,  and  I  '11  trail  down 
these  cattle.  The  sand  dunes  ought  to  catch 
them." 

Dell  and  Sargent  separated.  Five  miles  to 
the  eastward  Joel  was  met.  Manly  was  re- 
ported at  the  rear,  the  two  having  intercepted 
a  contingent  of  cattle  approaching  the  line, 
and  was  then  drifting  the  stragglers  back  to  the 
valley.  On  Dell's  report,  the  brothers  turned 
to  the  assistance  of  Sargent,  retracing  the 
western  line,  and  finally  bearing  off  for  the 
sand  hills.  Several  times  the  sun  threatened  to 
break  through,  lighting  the  valley,  but  without 
revealing  any  stir  among  the  cattle  in  the  shel- 
ter of  the  creek.  In  the  short  time  since  leav- 
ing their  stables,  the  horses  under  saddle  had 
whitened  from  the  action  of  the  frost  on  their 
sweaty  coats,  unheeded  by  their  riders.  There 
was  no  checking  of  mounts  until  the  range  of 
dunes  was  reached,  when  from  the  summit  of 
a  sand  hill  the  stragglers  were  located  in  care 
of  Sargent,  and  on  the  homeward  drift.  The 
cattle  were  so  benumbed  and  bewildered  from 
the  cold  that  they  had  marched  through  the 
shelter  of  the  dunes,  and  were  overtaken  adrift 
on  the  wind-swept  plain. 

The  contingent  numbered  sixty-odd  cattle, 
and  with  the  help  of  the  brothers  were  easily 


282  WELLS   BROTHERS 

handled.  Before  recrossing  the  line,  the  sun 
burst  forth,  and  on  reaching  the  slope,  the  trio 
halted  in  parting.  "  A  few  hours  of  this  sun," 
said  Sargent,  "  and  we  've  got  the  upper  hand 
of  this  storm.  The  wind  or  sun  must  yield.  If 
the  wind  lulls,  we'll  ride  the  inner  line  to- 
night and  bed  every  hoof  in  the  shelter  of 
the  creek.  Pick  up  Manly,  and  we  '11  ride 
the  valley  line  about  the  middle  of  the  after- 
noon." 

Joel  turned  homeward,  scouting  that  portion 
of  the  line  under  patrol  from  headquarters. 
The  drifting  contingent  was  intrusted  to  Dell, 
leaving  Sargent  to  retrace  their  division  of  the 
line,  and  before  noon  all  had  reached  their 
quarters.  From  twenty  to  thirty  miles  had  been 
covered  that  morning,  in  riding  the  line  and 
recovering  the  lost,  and  at  the  agreed  time,  the 
relay  horses  were  under  saddle  for  the  after- 
noon task.  The  sun  had  held  sway,  the  wind 
had  fallen,  and  as  they  followed  up  the  valley, 
they  encountered  the  cattle  in  large  bunches, 
grazing  to  every  quarter  of  the  compass.  They 
were  not  molested  on  the  outward  ride,  but 
on  the  return  trip,  near  evening,  they  were  all 
turned  back  to  the  sheltering  nooks  and  coves 
which  the  bends  of  the  Beaver  afforded.  A 
crimpy  night  followed,  but  an  early  patrol  in 
the  morning  found  the  cattle  snug  in  the  dry, 


AN  OPEN   WINTER  283 

rank  grasses  which  grew  in  the  first  bottoms 
of  the  creek. 

The  first  storm  had  been  weathered.  The 
third  day,  of  their  own  accord,  the  cattle  left 
the  valley  and  grazed  out  on  the  northern  di- 
vide. The  line-riders  relaxed  their  vigil,  and 
in  preparation  for  observing  the  Natal  day, 
each  camp  put  forth  its  best  hunter  to  secure 
a  venison.  The  absence  of  snow,  during  the 
storm,  had  held  the  antelope  tributary  to  the 
Beaver,  and  locating  game  was  an  easy  matter. 
To  provide  the  roast,  the  spirit  of  rivalry  was 
accented  anew,  and  each  camp  fervently  hoped 
for  its  own  success. 

A  venison  hung  at  headquarters  before 
noon,  Manly  making  a  running  shot  at  the 
leader  of  a  band,  which  was  surprised  out  of  a 
morning  siesta  near  the  old  trail  crossing.  If 
a  quarry  could  only  be  found  in  the  sand  hills, 
a  natural  shelter  for  antelope,  Sargent  had  flat- 
tered Dell  into  believing  that  his  aim  was  equal 
to  the  occasion.  The  broken  nature  of  the  dune 
country  admitted  of  stealthy  approach,  and  its 
nearness  to  the  upper  camp  recommended  it 
as  an  inviting  hunting  ground.  The  disappoint- 
ment of  the  first  effort,  due  to  moderated 
weather,  was  in  finding  the  quarry  far  afield. 
A  dozen  bands  were  sighted  from  the  protec- 
tion of  the  sand  hills,  a  mile  out  on  the  flat 


284  WELLS   BROTHERS 

plain,  but  without  shelter  to  screen  a  hunter. 
Sargent  was  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  select- 
ing a  quarry,  the  two  horses  were  unsaddled, 
the  bridle  reins  lengthened  by  adding  ropes, 
and  crouching  low,  their  mounts  afforded  the 
necessary  screen  as  they  grazed  or  were  driven 
forward.  By  tacking  right  and  left  in  a  zigzag 
course  they  gained  the  wind,  and  a  stealth}^ 
approach  on  the  band  was  begun.  The  sta- 
bled horses  grazed  ravenously,  sometimes  to- 
gether, then  apart,  affording  a  perfect  screen 
for  stalking. 

After  a  seeming  age  to  Dell,  the  required 
rifle  range  was  reached,  when  the  cronies 
flattened  themselves  in  the  short  grass  and 
allowed  the  horses  to  graze  to  their  rope's 
end.  Sargent  indicated  a  sentinel  buck,  pre- 
senting the  best  shot;  and  using  his  elbow  for 
a  rest,  the  rifle  was  laid  in  the  hollow  of 
Dell's  upraised  hand  and  drawn  firmly  to  his 
shoulder,  and  a  prompt  report  followed.  The 
shot  went  wild,  throwing  up  a  flash  of  dust 
before  the  band,  which  instantly  whirled.  The 
horses  merely  threw  up  their  heads  in  sur- 
prise, attracting  the  startled  quarry,  which 
ran  up  within  fifty  3^ards  of  the  repeating 
rifle.  In  the  excitement  of  the  moment  in- 
stantly following  the  first  shot,  Dell  had 
arisen  to  his  knee,  unmindful  of  the  necessit}^ 


AN   OPEN   WINTER  285 

of  throwing  another  cartridge  into  the  rifle 
barrel.  "  Shoot!  Shoot!  "  whispered  Sargent, 
as  the  band  excitedly  halted  within  pistol 
range.  Dell  fingered  the  trigger  in  vain. 
"Throw  in  a  cartridge!"  breathlessly  sug- 
gested Sargent.  The  lever  clicked,  followed 
by  a  shot,  which  tore  up  the  sod  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  muzzle  of  the  rifle  ! 

The  antelope  were  away  in  a  flash.  Sar- 
gent rolled  on  the  grass,  laughing  until  the 
tears  trickled  down  his  cheeks,  while  Dell's 
chagrin  left  him  standing  like  a  simpleton. 

"  I  don't  believe  this  gun  shoots  true,"  he 
ventured  at  last,  too  mortified  to  realize  the 
weakness  of  his  excuse.  "Besides,  it's  too 
easy  on  the  trigger." 

"No  rifle  shoots  true  during  buck  ague 
season,"  answered  Sargent,  not  daring  to  raise 
his  eyes.  "  When  the  grass  comes  next  spring, 
those  scars  in  the  sod  will  grow  over.  Lucky 
that  neither  horse  was  killed.  Honest,  I  '11 
never  breathe  it!  Not  for  worlds!  " 

Sargent's  irony  was  wasted.  Dell,  in  a 
dazed  way,  recovered  his  horse,  mounted,  and 
aimlessly  followed  his  bunkie.  On  reaching 
their  saddles,  the  mental  fog  lifted,  and  as  if 
awakening  from  a  pleasant  dream,  the  boy 
dismounted.  "Did  I  have  it?  —  the  buck 
ague.'*"  he  earnestly  inquired. 


286  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"You  had  symptoms  of  it/'  answered  Sar- 
gent, resaddling  his  horse.  "Whenever  a 
hunter  tries  to  shoot  an  empty  gun,  or  dis- 
charges one  into  the  ground  at  his  feet,  he 
ought  to  take  something  for  his  nerves.  It's 
not  fatal,  and  I  have  hopes  of  your  recovery." 

The  two  turned  homeward.  Several  times 
Sargent  gave  vent  to  a  peal  of  laughter  that 
rang  out  like  a  rifle  report,  but  Dell  failed  to 
appreciate  the  humor  of  the  situation. 

"Well,"  said  the  older  one,  as  they  dis- 
mounted at  the  stable,  "  if  we  have  to  fall  back 
on  corn  beef  for  our  Christmas  dinner,  I  can 
grace  it  with  a  timely  story.  And  if  we  have 
a  saddle  of  venison,  it  will  fit  the  occasion  just 
as  well." 

The  inner  line  was  ridden  at  evening.  The 
cattle  were  caring  for  themselves;  but  on  meet- 
ing the  lads  from  headquarters,  an  unusual 
amount  of  banter  and  repartee  was  ex- 
changed. 

"  Killed  an  antelope  two  days  before  you 
needed  it,"  remarked  Sargent  scathingly. 
"Well,  well!  You  fellows  certainly  have  n't 
much  confidence  in  your  skill  as  hunters." 

"  Venison  improves  with  age,"  loftily  ob- 
served Manly. 

"  That 's  a  poor  excuse.  At  best,  antelope 
venison  is  dry  meat.  We  located  a  band  or 


AN   OPEN   WINTER  287 

two  to-day,  and  if  Dell  don't  care  for  the  shot, 
I  '11  go  out  in  the  morning  and  bring  in  a  fat 
yearling." 

"Is  that  your  prospect  for  a  Christmas 
roast  ? "  inquired  Manly  with  refined  sar- 
casm. "Dell,  better  air  your  Sunday  shirt  to- 
morrow and  come  down  to  headquarters  for 
your  Christmas  dinner.  We  're  going  to  have 
quite  a  spread." 

Dell  threw  a  glance  at  Sargent.  "  Come 
on,"  said  the  latter  with  polished  contempt, 
reining  his  horse  homeward.  "Just  as  if  we 
lived  on  beans  at  The  Wagon  !  Just  as  if  our 
porcelain-lined  graniteware  was  n't  as  good 
as  their  tin  plates  !  Catch  us  accepting!  Come 
on!" 

Sargent  was  equal  to  his  boast.  He  returned 
the  next  day  before  noon,  a  young  doe  lashed 
to  his  saddle  cantle,  and  preparations  were 
made  for  an  extensive  dinner.  The  practical 
range  man  is  usually  a  competent  cook,  and 
from  the  stores  of  the  winter  camp  a  number 
of  extra  dishes  were  planned.  In  the  way  of  a 
roast,  on  the  plains,  a  saddle  of  venison  was 
the  possible  extreme,  and  the  occupants  of 
the  line-camp  possessed  a  ruddy  health  which 
promised  appetites  to  grace  the  occasion. 

Christmas  day  dawned  under  ideal  condi- 
tions. Soft  winds  swayed  the  dead  weeds  and 


288  WELLS   BROTHERS 

leafless  shrubs,  the  water  trickled  down  the 
creek  from  pool  to  pool,  reminding  one  of  a 
lazy,  spring  day,  with  droning  bees  and  flights 
of  birds  afield.  Sargent  rode  the  morning  pa- 
trol alone,  meeting  Joel  at  the  halfway  point, 
when  the  two  dismounted,  whiling  away  sev- 
eral hours  in  considering  future  plans  of  the 
ranch. 

It  was  high  noon  when  the  two  returned 
to  their  respective  quarters.  Dell  had  volun- 
teered to  supervise  the  roasting  of  the  venison, 
and  on  his  crony's  return,  the  two  sat  down 
to  their  Christmas  dinner.  What  the  repast 
lacked  in  linen  and  garnishment,  it  made  up 
in  stability,  graced  by  a  cheerfulness  and  con- 
tentment which  made  its  partakers  at  peace 
with  the  world.  Sargent  was  almost  as  re- 
sourceful in  travel  and  story  as  Quince  For- 
rest, and  never  at  a  loss  for  the  fitting  inci- 
dent to  grace  any  occasion. 

Dell  was  a  good  listener.  Any  story,  even 
at  his  own  expense,  was  enjoyed.  "Whether 
we  had  corn  beef  or  venison,"  said  he  to  Sar- 
gent, "  you  promised  to  tell  a  story  at  dinner 
to-day." 

"The  one  that  you  reminded  me  of  when 
you  shot  the  rifle  into  the  ground  at  your  feet 
and  scared  the  antelope  away?  No  oflense  if  I 
have  to  laugh;  you  looked  like  a  simpleton." 


AN   OPEN   WINTER  289 

"Tell  your  story;  I'm  young,  I'll  learn," 
urged  Dell. 

"  You  may  learn  to  handle  a  gun,  and  make 
the  same  mistake  again,  but  in  a  new  way.  It's 
live  and  learn.  This  man  was  old  enough  to 
be  your  father,  but  he  looked  just  as  witless  as 
you  did." 

"  Let 's  have  the  story,"  impatiently  urged 
the  boy. 

"  It  happened  on  a  camp  hunt.  Wild  turkeys 
are  very  plentiful  in  certain  sections  of  Texas, 
and  one  winter  a  number  of  us  planned  a 
week's  shooting.  In  the  party  was  a  big,  raw- 
boned  ex-sheriff,  known  as  one  of  the  most 
fearless  officers  in  the  state.  In  size  he  simply 
towered  above  the  rest  of  us. 

"  It  was  a  small  party,  but  we  took  along 
a  commissary  wagon,  an  ambulance,  saddle 
horses,  and  plenty  of  Mexicans  to  do  the  clerk- 
ing and  coarse  handwriting.  It  was  quite  a 
distance  to  the  hunting  grounds,  and  the  first 
night  out,  we  made  a  dry  camp.  A  water  keg 
and  every  jug  on  the  ranch  had  been  filled  for 
the  occasion,  and  were  carried  in  the  wagon. 

"  Before  reaching  the  road  camp,  the  big 
sheriff  promised  us  a  quail  pot-pie  for  break- 
fast, and  with  that  intent,  during  the  afternoon, 
he  killed  two  dozen  partridges.  The  bird  was 
very  plentiful,  and  instead  of  picking  them  for 


290  WELLS   BROTHERS 

a  pot-pie,  skinning  such  a  number  was  much 
quicker.  In  the  hurry  and  bustle  of  making  the 
camp  snug  for  the  night,  every  one  was  busy, 
the  sheriff  in  particular,  in  dressing  his  bag  of 
quail.  On  finishing  the  task,  he  asked  a  Mexican 
to  pour  some  water,  and  the  horse  wrangler 
reached  into  the  wagon,  at  random,  and  emp- 
tied a  small  jug  into  the  vessel  containing  the 
dressed  birds. 

"  The  big  fellow  adjourned  to  the  rear  and 
proceeded  to  wash  and  drain  his  quail.  After 
some  little  time,  he  called  to  the  cook :  '  Ignacio, 
I  smell  kerosene.  Look  in  the  wagon,  please, 
and  see  if  the  lantern  is  n't  leaking.' 

" '  In  a  minute,'  answered  the  cook,  busy 
elsewhere. 

"The  sheriff  went  on  washing  the  quail, 
and  when  about  halfway  through  the  task,  he 
halted.  '  Ignacio,  I  smell  that  kerosene  again. 
See  if  the  lantern  is  n't  upset,  or  the  oil  jug 
leaking.' 

"^Just  in  a  minute,'  came  the  answer  as 
before.  ^My  hands  are  in  the  flour.' 

"  The  big  man  went  on,  sniffing  the  air  from 
time  to  time,  nearly  finishing  his  task,  when 
he  stopped  again  and  pleadingly  said :  ^  Ignacio, 
I  surely  smell  kerosene.  We  're  out  for  a  week, 
and  a  lantern  without  oil  puts  us  in  a  class  with 
the  foolish  virgins.  Drop  your  work  and  see 


AN   OPEN    WINTER  291 

what  the  trouble  is.  There 's  a  leak  some- 
where.' 

"The  cook  dusted  the  flour  from  his  hands, 
clambered  up  on  the  wagon  wheel,  lifted  the 
kerosene  jug,  pulled  the  stopper,  smelt  it,  shook 
it,  and  lifted  it  above  his  head  in  search  of  a 
possible  crack.  The  empty  jug,  the  absence  of 
any  sign  of  leakage,  gradually  sifted  through 
his  mind,  and  he  cast  an  inquiring  glance  at 
the  big  sheriff,  just  then  finishing  his  task.  In- 
voking heaven  and  all  the  saints  to  witness, 
he  gasped,  '  Mr.  Charlie,  you  've  washed  the 
quail  in  the  kerosene! ' 

"  The  witless,  silly  expression  that  came 
into  that  big  man's  face  is  only  seen  once  in  a 
lifetime,"  said  Sargent  in  conclusion.  "  I  've 
been  fortunate,  I  've  seen  it  twice;  once  on  the 
face  of  a  Texas  sheriff,  and  again,  when  you 
shot  a  hole  in  the  ground  with  your  eye  on  an 
antelope.  Whenever  I  feel  blue  and  want  to 
laugh,  I  conjure  up  the  scene  of  a  Mexican, 
standing  on  a  wagon  wheel,  holding  a  jug,  and 
a  six-footer  in  the  background,  smelling  the 
fingers  of  one  hand  and  then  the  other." 


CHAPTER   XIX 

AN   INDIAN    SCARE 

THE  year  closed  with  dry,  open  wea- 
ther. The  cattle  scattered  wide,  rang- 
ing farther  afield,  unmolested  except 
by  shifting  winds.  The  latter  was  a  matter  of 
hourly  observation,  affording  its  lesson  to  the 
brothers,  and  readily  explained  by  the  older 
and  more  practical  men.  For  instance,  a  north 
or  the  dreaded  east  wind  brought  the  herd  into 
the  valley,  where  it  remained  until  the  wea- 
ther moderated,  and  then  drifted  out  of  its  own 
free  will.  When  a  balmy  south  wind  blew, 
the  cattle  grazed  against  it,  and  when  it  came 
from  a  western  quarter,  they  turned  their  backs 
and  the  gregarious  instinct  to  flock  was  notice- 
able. Under  settled  weather,  even  before  dawn, 
by  noting  the  quarter  of  the  wind,  it  was  an 
easy  matter  to  foretell  the  movement  of  the 
herd  for  the  coming  day. 

The  daily  tasks  rested  lightly.  The  line  was 
ridden  as  usual,  but  more  as  a  social  event  than 
as  a  matter  of  necessity.  The  occasional  re- 
ports of  Manly  to  his  employer  were  flattering 
in  the  extreme.  Any  risk  involved  in  the  exist- 


AN   INDIAN   SCARE  293 

ing  contract  hinged  on  the  present  winter,  and 
since  it  was  all  that  could  be  desired,  every 
fine  day  added  to  the  advantage  of  Wells 
Brothers.  So  far  their  venture  had  been  greeted 
with  fair  winds,  and  with  not  a  cloud  in  the 
visible  sky.  Manly  was  even  recalled  by  Mr. 
Stoddard  early  in  February. 

Month  after  month  passed  without  incident. 
Spring  came  fully  a  fortnight  earlier  than  the 
year  before.  By  the  middle  of  March,  the 
willows  were  bent  with  pollen,  the  birds  re- 
turned, and  the  greening  slopes  rolled  away 
and  were  lost  behind  low  horizons.  The  line- 
camp  was  abandoned,  the  cattle  were  scat- 
tered over  the  entire  valley,  and  the  instincts 
to  garden  were  given  free  rein.  The  building 
of  two  additional  tanks,  one  below  the  old  trail 
crossing  and  the  other  near  the  new  camp 
above,  occupied  a  month's  time  to  good  ad- 
vantage. It  enlarged  the  range  beyond  present 
needs;  but  the  brothers  were  wrestling  with 
a  rare  opportunity,  and  theirs  was  strictly  a 
policy  of  expansion. 

An  occasional  trip  to  the  railroad,  for  sup- 
plies or  pressing  errand,  was  usually  re- 
warded with  important  news.  During  the 
winter  just  passed,  Kansas  had  quarantined 
against  Texas  cattle,  and  the  trail  was  barred 
from  that  state.    Early  in  May    information 


294  WELLS   BROTHERS 

reached  the  ranch  that  the  market  interests 
of  Dodge  City  had  moved  over  the  line  into 
Colorado,  and  had  established  a  town  on  the 
railroad,  to  be  known  as  Trail  City.  A  feasi- 
ble route  lay  open  to  the  south,  across  No- 
Man's-Land,  into  the  Texas  Panhandle,  while 
scouting  parties  were  out  with  the  intent  of 
locating  a  new  trail  to  Ogalalla.  It  would 
cross  the  Republican  River  nearly  due  west- 
ward from  headquarters,  and  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  one  hundred  miles  distant. 

"There  you  are,"  said  Sargent,  studying  a 
railroad  folder.  "  You  must  have  water  for 
the  herds,  so  the  new  market  will  have  a 
river  and  a  railroad.  It  simply  means  that  the 
trail  has  shifted  from  the  east  to  the  west  of 
your  range.  As  long  as  the  country  is  open, 
you  can  buy  cattle  at  Trail  City,  hold  them 
on  the  Colorado  line  until  frost,  and  cross  to 
your  own  range  with  a  few  days'  travel.  It 
may  prove  an  advantage  after  all." 

The  blessing  of  sunshine  and  shower  rested 
on  the  new  ranch.  The  beaver  ponds  filled, 
the  spill-ways  of  every  tank  ran  like  a  mill 
race,  and  the  question  of  water  for  the  sum- 
mer was  answered.  The  cattle  early  showed 
the  benefits  of  the  favorable  winter,  and  by 
June  the  brands  were  readable  at  a  glance. 
From  time  to  time  reports  from  the  outside 


AN   INDIAN   SCARE  295 

world  reached  the  brothers,  and  among  other 
friendly  letters  received  was  an  occasional  in- 
quiry from  the  commission  firm,  the  factors 
named  under  the  existing  contract.  The  house 
kept  in  touch  with  the  range,  was  fully  aware 
of  the  open  winter,  and  could  easily  anticipate 
its  effects  in  maturing  cattle  for  early  ship- 
ment. 

The  solicitors  of  the  firm,  graduates  of  the 
range,  were  sent  out  a  month  in  advance  of 
other  years.  Wells  Brothers  were  advised  of 
a  promised  visit  by  one  of  the  traveling  agents 
of  the  commission  house,  and  during  the  first 
week  in  July  he  arrived  at  headquarters.  He 
was  a  practical  man,  with  little  concern  for 
comfort,  as  long  as  there  were  cattle  to  look 
over.  Joel  took  him  in  tow,  mounted  him  on 
the  pick  of  saddle  horses,  and  the  two  lei- 
surely rode  the  range. 

"What  does  he  say?"  inquired  Dell,  after  a 
day's  ride. 

"Not  a  word,"  answered  Joel.  "He  can't 
talk  any  more  than  I  can.  Put  in  all  day  just 
looking  and  thinking.  He  must  like  cattle  that 
range  wide,  for  we  rode  around  every  outside 
bunch.  He  can  talk,  because  he  admitted  we 
have  good  horses." 

Again  the  lesson  that  contact  teaches  was 
accented    anew.    At    parting    the   following 


296  WELLS   BROTHERS 

morning,  in  summing  up  the  outlook,  the 
solicitor  surprised  the  brothers.  "The  situa- 
tion is  clear,"  said  he  quietly.  "You  must 
ship  early.  Your  double-wintered  beeves  will 
reach  their  prime  this  month.  You  may  ship 
them  any  day  after  the  25th.  Your  single- 
wintered  ones  can  follow  in  three  weeks.  The 
firm  may  be  able  to  advise  you  when  to  ship. 
It's  only  a  fourteen-hour  run  to  the  yards, 
and  if  you  work  a  beef-shipping  outfit  that's 
up  to  date,  you  can  pick  3'our  day  to  reach 
the  market.  Get  your  outfit  together,  keep  in 
touch  with  the  house  by  wire,  and  market 
your  beef  in  advance  of  the  glut  from  the 
Platte  country." 

The  solicitor  lifted  the  lines  over  a  livery 
team.  "  One  moment,"  said  Joel.  "  Advise  Mr. 
Stoddard  that  we  rely  on  him  to  furnish  us  two 
men  during  the  beef-shipping  season." 

"Anything else  ?"  inquired  the  man,  a  mem- 
orandum-book in  hand. 

"  Where  are  the  nearest  ranches  to  ours  ?  " 

"  On  the  Republican,  both  above  and  below 
the  old  trail  crossing.  There  may  be  extra  men 
over  on  the  river,"  said  the  solicitor,  fully  an- 
ticipating the  query. 

"That's  all,"  said  Joel,  extending  his  hand. 

The  stranger  drove  away.  The  brothers  ex- 
changed a  puzzled  glance,  but  Sargent  smiled. 


AN   INDIAN   SCARE  297 

"That  old  boy  sabes  cows  some  little,"  said 
the  latter.  "  The  chances  are  that  he 's  for- 
gotten more  about  cattle  than  some  of  these 
government  experts  ever  knew.  Anyway,  he 
reads  the  sign  without  much  effort.  His  sur- 
vey of  this  range  and  the  outlook  are  worth 
listening  to.  Better  look  up  an  outfit  of  men." 

"We'll  gather  the  remuda  to-day,"  an- 
nounced Joel.  "  While  I  'm  gone  to  the  Re- 
publican, you  boys  can  trim  up  and  gentle  the 
horses." 

The  extra  mounts,  freed  the  fall  before,  had 
only  been  located  on  the  range,  and  must  be 
gathered  and  brought  in  to  headquarters  at 
once.  They  had  ranged  in  scattering  bunches 
during  the  winter,  and  a  single  day  would  be 
required  to  gather  and  corral  the  ranch  remuda. 
It  numbered,  complete,  ninety-six  horses,  all 
geldings,  and  the  wisdom  of  buying  the  ma- 
jority a  year  in  advance  of  their  needs  re- 
flected the  foresight  of  a  veteran  cowman. 
Many  of  them  were  wild,  impossible  of  ap- 
proach, the  call  of  the  plain  and  the  free  life 
of  their  mustang  ancestors  pulsing  with  every 
heart-beat,  and  several  days  would  be  required 
to  bring  them  under  docile  subjection.  There 
were  scraggy  hoofs  to  trim,  witches'  bridles 
to  disentangle,  while  long,  bushy,  matted  tails 
must  be  thinned  to  a  graceful  sweep. 


298  WELLS   BROTHERS 

The  beginning  of  work  acted  like  a  tonic. 
The  boys  sallied  forth,  mounted  on  their  best 
horses,  their  spirits  soaring  among  the  clouds. 
During  the  spring  rains,  several  small  lakes 
had  formed  in  the  sand  hills,  at  one  of  which 
a  band  of  some  thirty  saddle  horses  was  water- 
ing. The  lagoon  was  on  the  extreme  upper  end 
of  the  range,  fully  fifteen  miles  from  head- 
quarters; and  as  all  the  saddle  stock  must  be 
brought  in,  the  day's  work  required  riding  a 
wide  circle.  Skirting  the  sand  dunes,  by  early 
noon  all  the  horses  were  in  hand,  save  the 
band  of  thirty.  There  was  no  occasion  for  all 
hands  to  assist  in  bringing  in  the  absent  ones, 
and  a  consultation  resulted  in  Joel  and  Dell 
volunteering  for  the  task,  while  Sargent  re- 
turned home  with  the  horses  already  gathered. 

The  range  of  the  band  was  well  known,  and 
within  a  few  hours  after  parting  with  Sargent, 
the  missing  horses  were  in  hand.  The  brothers 
knew  every  horse,  and,  rejoicing  in  their  splen- 
did condition,  they  started  homeward,  driving 
the  loose  mounts  before  them.  The  most  direct 
course  to  headquarters  was  taken,  which  would 
carry  the  cavalcade  past  the  springs  and  the 
upper  winter  quarters.  The  latter  was  situated 
in  the  brakes  of  the  Beaver,  several  abrupt 
turns  of  the  creek,  until  its  near  approach, 
shutting  out  a  western  view  of  the  deserted 


AN    INDIAN   SCARE  299 

dug-out.  The  cavalcade  was  drifting  home  at  a 
gentle  trot,  but  on  approaching  The  Wagon, 
a  band  of  ponies  was  sighted  forward  and  in 
a  bend  of  the  creek.  The  boys  veered  their 
horses,  taking  to  the  western  divide,  and  on 
gaining  it,  saw  below  them  and  at  the  distance 
of  only  a  quarter-mile,  around  the  springs,  an 
Indian  encampment  of  a  dozen  tepees  and 
lean-tos. 

Dell  and  Joel  w^ere  struck  dumb  at  the  sight. 
To  add  to  their  surprise,  all  the  dogs  in  the  en- 
campment set  up  a  howling,  the  Indians  came 
tumbling  from  their  temporary  shelters,  many 
of  them  running  for  their  ponies  on  picket, 
while  an  old,  almost  naked  leader  signaled  to 
the  brothers.  It  was  a  moment  of  bewilder- 
ment with  the  boys,  who  conversed  in  whis- 
pers, never  halting  on  their  course,  and  when 
the  Indians  reached  their  ponies,  every  brave 
dashed  up  to  the  encampment.  A  short  parley 
followed,  during  which  signaling  was  main- 
tained by  the  old  Indian,  evidently  a  chief;  but 
the  boys  kept  edging  away,  and  the  old  brave 
sprang  on  a  pony  and  started  in  pursuit,  fol- 
lowed by  a  number  of  his  band. 

The  act  was  tinder  to  powder.  The  boys 
gave  rowel  to  their  mounts,  shook  out  their 
ropes,  raised  the  long  yell,  and  started  the  loose 
horses  in  a  mad  dash  for  home.  It  was  ten  long 


300  WELLS   BROTHERS 

miles  to  headquarters,  and  their  mounts,  al- 
ready fagged  by  carrying  heavy  saddles  and  the 
day's  work,  were  none  too  fresh,  while  the 
Indians  rode  bareback  and  were  not  encum- 
bered by  an  ounce  of  extra  clothing. 

The  boys  led  the  race  by  fully  five  hundred 
yards.  But  instead  of  taking  to  the  divide,  the 
Indians  bore  down  the  valley,  pursued  and  pur- 
suers in  plain  sight  of  each  other.  For  the  first 
mile  or  so  the  loose  horses  were  no  handicap, 
showing  clean  heels  and  keeping  clear  of  the 
whizzing  ropes.  But  after  the  first  wild  dash, 
the  remuda  began  to  scatter,  and  the  Indians 
gained  on  the  cavalcade,  coming  fairly  abreast 
and  not  over  four  hundred  yards  distant. 

"  They  're  riding  to  cut  us  off ! "  gasped  Dell. 
"They'll  cut  us  off  from  headquarters!" 

"  Our  horses  will  outwind  their  ponies," 
shouted  Joel,  in  reply.  "  Don't  let  these  loose 
horses  turn  into  the  valley." 

The  divide  was  more  difficult  to  follow  than 
the  creek.  The  meanderings  of  the  latter  were 
crossed  and  recrossed  without  halting,  while 
the  watershed  zigzagged,  or  was  broken  and 
cut  by  dry  washes  and  coulees,  thus  retarding 
the  speed  of  the  cavalcade.  The  race  wore  on 
with  varying  advantage,  and  when  near  half- 
way to  headquarters,  the  Indians  turned  up 
the  slope  as  if  to  verify  Dell's  forecast.   At 


AN   INDIAN   SCARE  301 

this  juncture,  a  half-dozen  of  the  loose  horses 
cut  off  from  the  band  and  turned  down  the 
slope  in  plain  sight  of  the  pursuers. 

"  If  it 's  horses  they  want,  they  can  have 
those,"  shouted  Joel.  "  Climbing  that  slope 
will  fag  their  ponies.  Come  on;  here  's  where 
we  have  the  best  of  it." 

The  Indians  were  not  to  be  pacified.  With- 
out a  look  they  swept  past  the  abandoned 
horses.  The  boys  made  a  clear  gain  along  a 
level  stretch  on  the  divide,  maintaining  their 
first  lead,  when  the  pursuers,  baffled  in  cutting 
them  off,  turned  again  into  the  valley. 

"It  isn't  horses  they  want,"  ventured  Dell, 
with  a  backward  glance. 

"  In  the  next  dip,  we  '11  throw  the  others 
down  the  western  slope,  and  ride  for  our  lives," 
answered  Joel,  convinced  that  a  sacrifice  of 
horses  would  not  appease  their  pursuers. 

The  opportunity  came  shortly,  when  for  a 
few  minutes  the  brothers  dipped  from  sight  of 
the  Indians.  The  act  confused  the  latter,  who 
scaled  the  divide,  only  to  find  the  objects  of 
their  chase  a  full  half-mile  in  the  lead,  but 
calling  on  the  last  reserve  in  their  fagged 
horses.  The  pursuers  gradually  closed  the  in- 
tervening gap ;  but  with  the  advantage  of  know- 
ing every  foot  of  the  ground,  the  brothers  took 
a  tack  which  carried  them  into  the  valley  at 


302  WELLS   BROTHERS 

the  old  winter  corral.  From  that  point  it  was 
a  straight  stretch  homeward,  and,  their  horses 
proving  their  mettle,  the  boys  dashed  up  to 
the  stable,  where  Sargent  was  found  at  work 
among  the  other  horses. 

"Indians!  Indians!"  shouted  Dell,  who  ar- 
rived in  the  lead.  "Indians  have  been  chasing 
us  all  afternoon.  Run  for  your  life,  Jack ! " 

Joel  swept  past  a  moment  later,  accenting 
the  situation,  and  as  Sargent  left  the  corral,  he 
caught  sight  of  the  pursuing  Indians,  and 
showed  splendid  action  in  reaching  the  dug- 
out. 

Breathless  and  gasping,  Dell  and  Joel  each 
grasped  a  repeating  rifle,  while  Sargent,  in  the 
excitement  of  the  moment,  unable  to  unearth 
the  story,  buckled  on  a  six-shooter.  The  first 
reconnoitre  revealed  the  Indians  halted  some 
two  hundred  yards  distant,  and  parleying 
among  themselves.  At  a  first  glance,  the  latter 
seemed  to  be  unarmed,  and  on  Sargent  step- 
ping outside  the  shack,  the  leader,  the  old 
brave,  simply  held  up  his  hand. 

"They  must  be  peaceful  Indians,"  said 
Sargent  to  the  boys,  and  signaled  in  the  leader. 

The  old  Indian  jogged  forward  on  his  tired 
pony,  leaving  his  followers  behind,  and  on  rid- 
ing up,  a  smile  was  noticeable  on  his  wrinkled 
visage.  He  dismounted,  unearthing  from  his 


AN   INDIAN   SCARE  303 

scanty  breech-clout  a   greasy,  grimy    letter, 
and  tendered  it  to  Sargent. 

The  latter  scanned  the  missive,  and  turning 
to  the  boys,  who  had  ventured  forth,  broke 
into  a  fit  of  laughter. 

"  Why,  this  is  Chief  Lone  Wolf,"  said  Sar- 
gent, "from  the  Pine  Ridge  Agency,  going 
down  to  see  his  kinsfolks  in  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory. The  agent  at  Pine  Ridge  says  that  Lone 
Wolf  is  a  peaceful  Indian,  and  has  his  per- 
mission to  leave  the  reservation.  He  hopes 
that  nothing  but  kindness  will  be  shown  the 
old  chief  in  his  travels,  and  bespeaks  the  con- 
fidence of  any  white  settlers  that  he  may 
meet  on  the  way.  You  boys  must  have  been 
scared  out  of  your  wits.  Lone  Wolf  only 
wanted  to  show  you  this  letter." 

Sargent  conversed  with  the  old  chief  in 
Spanish,  the  others  were  signaled  in,  when  a 
regular  powwow  ensued.  Dell  and  Joel 
shook  hands  with  all  the  Indians,  Sargent 
shared  his  tobacco  with  Lone  Wolf,  and  on 
returning  to  their  encampment  at  evening, 
each  visitor  was  burdened  with  pickled  beef 
and  such  other  staples  as  the  cow-camp  af- 
forded. 


CHAPTER  XX 

HARVEST   ON   THE    RANGE 

JOEL  set  out  for  the  Republican  the  next 
morning  and  was  gone  four  days.  The 
beef  ranches  along  the  river  had  no  men 
to  spare,  but  constant  inquir}^  was  rewarded 
by  locating  an  outfit  whose  holdings  consisted 
of  stock  cattle.  Three  men  were  secured,  their 
services  not  being  urgently  required  on  the 
home  ranch  until  the  fall  branding,  leaving 
only  a  cook  and  horse  wrangler  to  be  secured. 
Inquiry  at  Culbertson  located  a  homesteader 
and  his  boy,  anxious  for  work,  and  the  two 
were  engaged. 

"They're  to  report  here  on  the  15th,"  said 
Joel,  on  his  return.  "  It  gives  us  six  men  in 
the  saddle,  and  we  can  get  out  the  first  ship- 
ment with  that  number.  The  cook  and  wran- 
gler may  be  a  little  green  at  first,  but  they're 
willing,  and  that  masters  any  task.  We'll 
have  to  be  patient  with  them  —  we  were  all 
beginners  once.  Any  man  who  ever  wrestled 
with  a  homestead  ought  to  be  able  to  cook." 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  admitted  Sargent.  "  There 's 
nothing  develops  a  man  like  settling  up  a  new 


HARVEST   ON   THE  RANGE    305 

country.  It  brings  out  every  latent  quality. 
In  the  West  you  can  almost  tell  a  man's  native 
heath  by  his  ability  to  use  baling  wire,  hickory 
withes,  or  rawhide." 

The  instinct  of  cattle  is  reliable  in  selecting 
their  own  range.  Within  a  week,  depending 
on  the  degree  of  maturity,  the  herd,  with  un- 
erring nutrient  results,  turns  from  one  species 
of  grass  to  another.  The  double-wintered  cattle 
naturally  returned  to  their  former  range;  but 
in  order  to  quicken  the  work,  any  beeves  of 
that  class  found  below  were  drifted  above 
headquarters.  It  was  a  distinct  advantage  to 
leave  the  herd  undisturbed,  and  with  the  first 
shipment  drifted  to  one  end  of  the  range,  a 
small  round-up  or  two  would  catch  all  market- 
able beeves. 

The  engaged  men  arrived  on  the  appointed 
date.  The  cook  and  wrangler  were  initiated 
into  their  respective  duties  at  once.  The  wagon 
was  equipped  for  the  trail,  vicious  horses  were 
gentled,  and  an  ample  mount  allotted  to  the 
extra  men.  The  latter  were  delighted  over  the 
saddle  stock,  and  mounted  to  satisfy  every  de- 
sire, no  task  daunted  their  numbers.  Sargent 
was  recognized  as  foreman;  but  as  the  work 
was  fully  understood,  the  concerted  efforts  of 
all  relieved  him  of  any  concern,  except  in  ar- 
ranging the  details.  The  ranch  had  fallen  heir 


3o6  WELLS   BROTHERS 

to  a  complete  camp  kit,  with  the  new  wagon, 
and  with  a  single  day's  preparations,  the  ship- 
ping outfit  stood  ready  to  move  on  an  hour's 
notice. 

It  was  no  random  statement,  on  the  part  of 
the  solicitor,  that  Wells  Brothers  could  choose 
the  day  on  which  to  market  their  beef.  Sar- 
gent had  figured  out  the  time,  either  forced 
or  leisurel}^,  to  execute  a  shipment,  and  was 
rather  impatient  to  try  out  the  outfit  in  actual 
field  work. 

"  Suppose  we  break  in  the  outfit,"  he  sug- 
gested, "  by  taking  a  little  swing  around  the 
range.  It  will  gentle  the  horses,  instruct  the 
cook  and  wrangler,  and  give  us  all  a  touch  of 
the  real  thing." 

Joel  consulted  a  calendar.  "We  have  four 
days  before  beginning  to  gather  beeves,"  he 
announced.  "  Let 's  go  somewhere  and  camp." 

"We'll  move  to  the  old  trail  crossing  at 
sun-up,"  announced  Sargent.  "  Roll  your 
blankets  in  the  morning,  boys." 

A  lusty  shout  greeted  the  declaration.  It 
was  the  opening  of  the  beef-shipping  season, 
the  harvest  time  of  the  year,  and  the  boys  were 
impatient  to  begin  the  work.  But  the  best-laid 
plans  are  often  interrupted.  That  evening  a 
courier  reached  headquarters,  bearing  a  mes- 
sage from  the  commission  firm  which  read, 


HARVEST   ON   THE   RANGE    307 

"  Have  your  double-wintered  beeves  on  Satur- 
day's market." 

"  That 's  better,"  said  Sargent,  glancing  over 
the  telegram.  "  The  wagon  and  remuda  will 
start  for  Hackberry  Grove  at  sun-up.  Have  the 
messenger  order  ten  cars  for  Friday  morning. 
The  shipment  will  be  on  Saturday's  market." 

Dawn  found  the  outfit  at  attention.  Every 
movement  was  made  with  alacrity.  Two  men 
assisted  a  husky  boy  to  corral  the  remuda, 
others  harnessed  in  a  span  of  mules,  and  before 
the  sun  peeped  over  the  horizon,  the  cavalcade 
moved  out  up  the  valley,  the  courier  returning 
to  the  station.  The  drag-net  from  below  would 
be  thrown  out  from  the  old  winter  corral ;  but 
as  an  hour's  sun  on  the  cattle  rendered  them 
lazy,  half  the  horsemen  halted  until  the  other 
sighted  the  grove  above.  As  early  as  advisable, 
the  gradual  circle  was  begun,  turning  the  cattle 
into  the  valley,  concentrating,  and  by  slowly 
edging  in,  the  first  round-up  of  the  day  was 
thrown  together,  numbering,  range  run,  fully 
six  hundred  head.  Two  men  were  detailed  to 
hold  the  round-up  compactly,  Dell  volunteered 
to  watch  the  cut  (the  beeves  selected),  leav- 
ing the  other  three  to  cut  out  the  marketable 
cattle  which  would  make  up  the  shipment.  A 
short  hour's  work  followed,  resulting  in  eighty- 
odd  beeves  being  selected.  Flesh,  age,  and  the 


3o8  WELLS   BROTHERS 

brand  governed  each  selection,  and  when  cut 
into  a  class  by  themselves,  the  mettle  of  the 
pasture  was  reflected  in  every  beef. 

The  cut  was  grazed  up  to  the  second  round- 
up, which  contributed  nearly  double  the  for- 
mer number.  On  finishing  the  work,  a  count  of 
the  beeves  was  made,  which  overran  in  num- 
bers the  necessary  shipment.  They  were  ex- 
tremely heavy  cattle,  twent}^  head  to  the  car 
was  the  limit,  and  it  became  necessary  to  trim 
or  cull  back  to  the  desired  number.  Sargent 
and  Joel  passed  on  every  rejected  beef,  uniform 
weight  being  desirable,  until  the  shipment 
stood  acceptable,  in  numbers,  form,  and  finish. 

The  beeves  were  watered  and  grazed  out 
on  their  course  without  delay.  Three  days  and 
a  half  were  allowed  to  reach  the  railroad,  and 
a  grazing  pace  would  land  the  herd  in  the  ship- 
ping pens  in  good  season.  The  day's  work  con- 
sisted in  merely  pointing  and  drifting  the  cattle 
forward,  requiring  only  a  few  men,  leaving 
abundant  help  to  initiate  the  cook  and  wrangler 
in  their  field  duties.  Joel  had  been  a  close  ob- 
server of  the  apparent  ease  with  which  a  cook 
discharged  his  duty,  frequently  halting  his 
wagon  on  a  moment's  notice,  and  easily  pre- 
paring a  meal  for  an  outfit  of  trail  men  within 
an  hour.  The  main  secret  lay  in  the  foresight, 
in  keeping  his  work  in  advance,  and  Joel  lent 


HARVEST   ON   THE   RANGE    309 

every  assistance  in  coaching  his  cook  to  meet 
the  emergency  of  any  demand. 

Sargent  took  the  wrangler  in  hand.  The 
different  bunches  of  horses  had  seen  service 
on  the  trail,  were  gentle  to  handle,  and  atten- 
tion was  called  to  observing  each  individual 
horse  and  the  remuda  as  a  whole.  For  instance, 
in  summer,  a  horse  grazes  against  the  breeze, 
and  if  the  remuda  was  freed  intelligently,  at 
darkness,  the  wind  holding  from  the  same 
quarter  during  the  night,  a  practical  wrangler 
would  know  where  to  find  his  horses  at  dawn. 
The  quarter  of  the  breeze  was  therefore  always 
noted,  any  variation  after  darkness,  as  if  sub- 
ject to  the  whim  of  the  wind,  turningthe  course 
of  the  grazing  remuda.  As  among  men,  there 
were  leaders  among  horses,  and  by  noting 
these  and  applying  hobbles,  any  inclination  to 
wander  was  restrained.  Fortunately,  the  husky 
boy  had  no  fear  of  a  horse,  his  approach  being 
as  masterly  as  his  leave-taking  was  gentle  and 
kindly  —  a  rare  gift  when  unhobbling  alone  in 
the  open. 

"  I  '11  make  a  horse  wrangler  out  of  this  boy," 
said  Sargent  to  the  father,  in  the  presence  of 
Dell  and  Joel.  "  Before  the  summer  ends,  he  'II 
know  every  crook  and  turn  in  the  remuda. 
There 's  nothing  like  knowing  your  horses. 
Learn  to  trail  down  the  lost ;  know  their  spirit, 


310  WELLS   BROTHERS 

know  them  in  health,  lame  and  wounded.  If 
a  horse  neighs  at  night,  know  why;  if  one's 
missing  in  the  morning,  name  him  like  you 
would  an  absent  boy  at  school." 

The  trip  down  to  the  railroad  was  largely 
a  matter  of  patience.  The  beeves  were  given 
every  advantage,  and  except  the  loss  of  sleep 
in  night-herding,  the  work  approached  loafing 
against  time.  Three  guards  stood  watch  during 
the  short  summer  nights,  pushing  the  herd  off 
its  bed  at  dawn,  grazing  early  and  late,  and 
resting  through  the  noon  hours. 

An  agreeable  surprise  awaited  the  original 
trio.  The  evening  before  loading  out,  the 
beeves  must  be  penned,  and  Joel  rode  into  the 
station  in  advance,  to  see  that  cars  were  in 
waiting  and  get  the  shipping  details.  As  if  sent 
on  the  same  errand.  Manly  met  him,  having 
been  ordered  on  from  Trail  City. 

"  I  've  been  burning  the  wires  all  morning," 
said  he  to  Joel,  ''for  a  special  train  for  this 
shipment.  The  agent  wanted  us  to  take  a  local 
freight  from  here,  but  I  showed  him  there  were 
other  train  shipments  to  follow.  A  telegram  to 
the  commission  firm  and  another  one  to  my 
old  man  done  the  work.  Those  old  boys  know 
how  to  pull  the  strings.  A  special  train  has 
been  ordered,  and  you  can  name  your  own 
hour  for  leaving  in  the  morning.  I  have  a  man 


HARVEST   ON    THE   RANGE    311 

with  me;  send  us  in  horses  and  we  '11  help  you 
corral  your  beeves." 

Joel  remained  only  long  enough  to  confirm 
Manly's  foresight.  Two  horses  were  sent  in 
by  Dell,  and  the  welcome  addition  of  two  extra 
men  joined  the  herd,  which  was  easily  corralled 
at  dusk  of  evening.  An  early  hour  was  agreed 
upon  to  load  out,  the  empty  train  came  in 
promptly,  and  the  first  shipment  of  the  year 
was  cut  into  car  lots  and  loaded  out  during  a 
morning  hour. 

Before  the  departure  of  the  train,  an  air  of 
activity  was  noticeable  around  the  bleak  sta- 
tion. The  train  crew  was  insisting  for  a  pas- 
senger schedule,  there  was  billing  to  be  done 
and  contracts  to  execute,  telegrams  of  notifi- 
cation to  be  sent  the  commission  firm,  and 
general  instructions  to  the  beef  outfit.  Joel  and 
Sargent  were  to  accompany  the  shipment,  and 
on  starting,  while  the  engineer  and  conductor 
were  comparing  their  running  orders,  Sargent 
called  out  from  the  rear  of  the  caboose :  — 

"  The  best  of  friends  must  part,"  said  he, 
pretending  to  weep.  "Here's  two  bits;  buy 
yourself  some  cheese  and  crackers,  and  take 
some  candy  home  to  the  children.  Manly,  if 
I  never  come  back,  you  can  have  my  little 
red  wagon.  Dell,  my  dear  old  bunkie  —  well, 
you  can  have  all  my  other  playthings." 


312  WELLS   BROTHERS 

The  cattle  train  faded  from  sight  and  the 
outfit  turned  homeward.  Horses  were  left  at 
the  station  for  Joel  and  Sargent,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  the  outfit  reached  headquarters 
the  following  day.  Manly  had  been  away 
from  the  ranch  nearly  six  months,  and  he 
and  Dell  rode  the  range,  pending  the  return 
of  the  absent.  Under  ideal  range  conditions, 
the  cattle  of  marketable  age  proved  a  re- 
velation, having  rounded  into  form  beyond 
belief. 

"That's  why  I  love  cattle,"  said  Manly  to 
Dell,  while  riding  the  range;  "they  never  dis- 
appoint. Cattle  endure  time  and  season,  with 
a  hardiness  that  no  other  animal  possesses. 
Given  a  chance,  they  repay  every  debt.  Why, 
one  shipment  from  these  Stoddard  cattle  will 
almost  wipe  the  slate.  Uncle  Dudley  thought 
this  was  a  fool  deal,  but  Mr.  Lovell  seemed 
so  bent  on  making  it  that  my  old  man  simply 
gave  in.  And  now  you're  going  to  make  a 
fortune  out  of  these  Lazy  H's.  No  wonder 
us  fool  Texans  love  a  cow." 

The  absent  ones  returned  promptly.  "  The 
Beaver  valley  not  only  topped  the  market 
for  range  cattle,"  loftily  said  Sargent,  "but 
topped  it  in  price  and  weight.  The  beeves 
barely  netted  fifty-two  dollars  a  head !  " 

Early  shipments  were  urged  from  every 


HARVEST   ON   THE  RANGE    313 

quarter.  "Hereafter,"  said  Joel,  "the  com- 
mission firm  will  order  the  trains  and  send 
us  a  practical  shipper.  There  may  rise  a  sit- 
uation that  we  may  have  to  rush  our  ship- 
ments, and  we  can't  spare  men  to  go  to  mar- 
ket. It  pays  to  be  on  time.  Those  commission 
men  are  wide  awake.  Look  at  these  railroad 
passes,  good  for  the  year,  that  they  secured 
for  us  boys.  If  any  one  has  to  go  to  market, 
we  can  take  a  passenger  train,  and  leave  the 
cattle  to  follow." 

The  addition  of  two  men  to  the  shipping 
outfit  was  a  welcome  asset.  The  first  consign- 
ment from  the  ranch  gave  the  men  a  field- 
trial,  and  now  that  the  actual  shipping  season 
was  at  hand,  an  allotment  of  horses  was  made. 
The  numbers  of  the  remuda  admitted  of 
mounting  every  man  to  the  limit,  and  with 
their  first  shipment  a  success,  the  men  rested 
impatiently  awaiting  orders. 

The  commission  firm,  with  its  wide  know- 
ledge of  range  and  market  conditions,  was 
constantly  alert.  The  second  order,  of  ten  days* 
later  date,  was  a  duplicate  of  the  first,  with 
one  less  for  fulfillment.  The  outfit  dropped 
down  to  the  old  trail  crossing  the  evening  be- 
fore, and  by  noon  two  round-ups  had  yielded 
twent}^  car-loads  of  straight  Lazy  H  beeves. 
When  trimmed    to    their  required  numbers, 


314  WELLS   BROTHERS 

twenty-two  to  the  car,  they  reflected  credit 
to  breeder  and  present  owner. 

In  grazing  down  to  the  railroad,  every  hour 
counted.  There  was  no  apparent  rush,  but  an 
hour  saved  at  noon,  an  equal  economy  at 
evening  and  morning,  brought  the  herd  within 
summons  of  the  shipping  yards  on  time.  That 
the  beeves  might  be  favored,  they  were  held 
outside  for  the  night,  three  miles  from  the 
corral,  but  an  early  sun  found  them  safely  in- 
side the  shipping  pens.  Two  hours  later,  the 
full  train  was  en  route  to  market,  in  care  of 
a  practical  shipper. 

On  yarding  the  beeves  the  customary  tele- 
gram had  been  sent  to  the  commission  firm. 
No  reply  was  expected,  but  within  half  an 
hour  after  the  train  left,  a  message,  asking 
Joel  to  accompany  the  shipment,  was  received 
from  Mr.  Stoddard. 

"  You  must  go,"  said  Manly,  scanning  the 
telegram.  "  It  is  n't  the  last  cattle  that  he  sold 
you  that 's  worrying  my  boss.  He  has  two 
herds  on  the  market  this  year,  one  at  Trail 
City  and  the  other  at  Ogalalla,  and  he  may 
have  his  eye  on  you  as  a  possible  buyer.  You 
have  a  pass;  you  can  catch  the  eastern  mail 
at  noon,  and  overtake  the  cattle  train  in  time 
to  see  the  beeves  unloaded." 

"Which  herd  did  you  come  up  with.?"  in- 


HARVEST   ON   THE   RANGE    315 

quired  Joel,  fumbling  through  his  pockets  for 
the  forgotten  pass. 

"  With  the  one  at  Ogalalla.  It 's  full  thirty- 
one  hundred  steers,  single  ranch  brand,  and 
will  run  about  equally  twos  and  threes.  Same 
range,  same  stock,  as  your  Lazy  H's,  and 
you  are  perfectly  safe  in  buying  them  unseen. 
Just  the  same  cattle  that  you  bought  last  year, 
with  the  advantage  of  a  better  season  on  the 
trail.  All  you  need  to  do  is  to  agree  on  the 
prices  and  terms ;  the  cattle  are  as  honest  as 
gold  and  twice  as  good." 

'^  Leave  me  a  horse  and  take  the  outfit 
home,"  said  Joel  with  decision.  "  If  an  order 
comes  for  more  beeves,  cut  the  next  train 
from  the  Lazy  H's.  I  '11  be  back  in  a  day  or 
two." 

Joel  Wells  was  rapidly  taking  his  degrees 
in  the  range  school.  At  dusk  he  overtook  the 
cattle  train,  which  reached  the  market  yards 
on  schedule  time.  The  shipper's  duty  ceased 
with  the  unloading  of  the  cattle,  which  was 
easily  completed  before  midnight,  when  he 
and  his  employer  separated.  The  market  would 
not  open  until  a  late  morning  hour,  affording 
ample  time  to  rest  and  refresh  the  beeves, 
and  to  look  up  acquaintances  in  the  office. 

Joel  had  almost  learned  to  dispense  with 
sleep.  With  the  first  stir  of  the  morning,  he 


31 6  WELLS   BROTHERS 

was  up  and  about.  Before  the  clerks  even 
arrived,  he  was  hanging  around  the  office  of 
the  commission  firm.  The  expected  shipment 
brought  the  salesmen  and  members  of  the  firm 
much  earlier  than  usual,  and  Joel  was  saved 
all  further  impatience.  Mr.  Stoddard  was 
summoned,  and  the  last  barrier  was  lifted  in 
the  hearty  greeting  between  the  manly  boy 
and  a  veteran  of  their  mutual  occupation. 

The  shipment  sold  early  in  the  day.  An 
hour  before  noon,  an  interested  party  left  the 
commission  office  and  sauntered  forth  to  watch 
the  beeves  cross  the  scale.  It  was  the  parting 
look  of  breeder,  owner,  and  factor,  and  when 
the  average  weight  was  announced,  Mr.  Stod- 
dard turned  to  the  others. 

"  Look  here,  Mr.  Joel,"  said  he,  "are  these 
the  cattle  I  sold  you  last  summer?" 

"  They  carry  your  brand,"  modestly  admit- 
ted Joel. 

"  So  I  notice,"  assentingly  said  the  old  cow- 
man. "And  still  I  can  scarcely  believe  my 
eyes.  Of  course  I  'm  proud  of  having  bred 
these  beeves,  even  if  the  lion's  share  of  their 
value  to-day  goes  to  the  boys  who  matured 
them.  I  must  be  an  old  fogy." 

"  You  are,"  smilingly  said  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  commission  house.  '*  Every  up-to- 
date    Texas    cowman    has    a    northern    beef 


HARVEST   ON   THE   RANGE    317 

ranch.  To  be  sure,  as  long  as  you  can  raise  a 
steer  as  cheap  as  another  man  can  raise  a  fry- 
ing chicken,  you  '11  prosper  in  a  way.  Wells 
Brothers  are  n't  afraid  of  a  little  cold,  and  you 
are.  In  that  way  only,  the  lion's  share  falls  to 
them." 

"  One  man  to  his  own  farm,  another  to  his 
merchandise,"  genially  quoted  the  old  cow- 
man, "  and  us  poor  Texans  don't  take  very 
friendly  to  your  northern  winters.  It's  the 
making  of  cattle,  but  excuse  your  Uncle  Dud- 
ley. Give  me  my  own  vine  and  fig  tree." 

"  Then  wish  the  boys  who  brave  the  storm 
success,"  urged  the  old  factor. 

"  I  do,"  snorted  the  grizzled  ranchman. 
"  These  beeves  are  a  story  that  is  told.  I  'm 
here  to  sell  young  Wells  another  herd  of  cat- 
tle. He 's  my  customer  as  much  as  yours. 
That 's  the  reason  I  urged  his  presence  to-day." 

The  atmosphere  cleared.  On  the  market 
and  under  the  weight,  each  beef  was  paying 
the  cost  of  three  the  year  before;  but  it  was 
the  letter  of  the  bond,  and  each  party  to  the 
contract  respected  his  obligation. 

After  returning  to  the  office,  on  a  petty  pre- 
text, Mr.  Stoddard  and  Joel  wandered  away. 
They  returned  early  in  the  afternoon,  to  find 
all  accounts  made  up,  and  ready  for  their  per- 
sonal approval.    The  second  shipment  easily 


31 8  WELLS  BROTHERS 

enabled  Joel  to  take  up  his  contract,  and 
when  the  canceled  document  was  handed 
him,  Mr.  Stoddard  turned  to  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm. 

"  I  've  offered  to  duplicate  that  contract," 
said  he,  "  on  the  same  price  and  terms,  and 
for  double  the  number  of  cattle.  This  quar- 
antine raises  havoc  with  delivery." 

"A  liberal  interpretation  of  the  new  law 
is  in  effect,"  remarked  the  senior  member. 
"There's  too  many  interests  involved  to  in- 
sist on  a  rigid  enforcement.  The  ban  is  already 
raised  on  any  Panhandle  cattle,  and  any  north 
of  certain  latitudes  can  get  a  clean  bill  of 
health.  If  that's  all  that  stands  in  the  way  of 
a  trade,  our  firm  will  use  its  good  offices." 

"In  that  case,"  said  Joel,  nodding  to  Mr. 
Stoddard,  "we'll  take  your  herd  at  Ogalalla. 
Move  it  down  to  the  old  trail  crossing  on  the 
Republican,  just  over  the  state  line  and  north 
of  our  range.  This  firm  is  perfectly  accepta- 
ble again  as  middlemen  or  factors,"  he  con- 
cluded, turning  to  the  member  present. 

"Thank  you,"  said  the  old  factor.  "We'll 
try  and  merit  any  confidence  reposed.  This 
other  matter  will  be  taken  up  with  the  quar- 
antine authorities  at  once.  Show  me  your 
exact  range,"  he  requested,  turning  to  a  map 
and  indicating  the  shipping  station. 


HARVEST   ON   THE   RANGE    319 

Wells  Brothers'  range  lay  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  state.  The  Republican  River, 
in  Nebraska,  ran  well  over  the  line  to  the 
north,  with  unknown  neighbors  on  the  west 
in  Colorado. 

"  It 's  a  clear  field,"  observed  the  old  factor. 
"Your  own  are  the  only  cattle  endangered, 
and  since  you  are  the  applicant  for  the  bill  of 
health,  you  absolve  the  authorities  from  all 
concern.  Hurry  in  your  other  shipments,  and 
the  railroad  can  use  its  influence  —  it'll  want 
cattle  to  ship  next  year.  The  ranges  must  be 
restocked." 

There  was  sound  logic  in  the  latter  state- 
ment. A  telegram  was  sent  to  Ogalalla,  to 
start  the  through  herd,  and  another  to  the  beef 
outfit,  to  hurry  forward  the  next  shipment. 
Joel  left  for  home  that  night,  and  the  next 
evening  met  his  outfit,  ten  miles  out  from  the 
Beaver,  with  a  perfect  duplicate  of  the  former 
consignment.  It  was  early  harvest  on  the 
cattle  ranges,  and  those  who  were  favored 
with  marketable  beef  were  eager  to  avoid 
the  heavy  rush  of  fall  shipments. 

The  beef  herd  camped  for  the  night  on  the 
divide.  Joel's  report  provoked  argument,  and 
a  buzz  of  friendly  contention,  as  the  men 
lounged  around  the  tiny  camp-fire,  ran  through 
the  outfit. 


320  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"  It  may  be  the  custom  among  you  Texans," 
protested  one  of  the  lads  from  the  Repub- 
lican, "  but  I  would  n't  buy  a  herd  of  cattle 
without  seeing  them.  Buy  three  thousand  head 
of  cattle  unseen?  Not  this  one  of  old  man 
Vivian's  boys!  Oh,  no!" 

"  Link,  that  kind  of  talk  shows  your  rais- 
ing," replied  Sargent.  "Your  view  is  narrow 
and  illiberal.  You  have  n't  traveled  far.  Your 
tickets  cost  somewhere  between  four  and  six 
bits." 

Manly  lifted  his  head  from  a  saddle,  and 
turning  on  his  side,  gazed  at  the  dying  fire. 
"Vivian,"  said  he,  "it  all  depends  on  how 
your  folks  bring  you  up.  Down  home  we  buy 
and  sell  by  ages.  A  cow  is  a  cow,  a  steer  is 
a  steer,  according  to  his  age,  and  so  on  down 
to  the  end  of  the  alphabet.  The  cattle  never 
misrepresent  and  there 's  no  occasion  for  see- 
ing them.  If  you  are  laboring  under  the  idea 
that  my  old  man  would  use  any  deception  to 
sell  a  herd,  you  have  another  guess  coming. 
He'd  rather  lose  his  right  hand  than  to  mis- 
represent the  color  of  a  cow.  He  's  as  jealous 
of  his  cattle  as  a  miller  is  of  his  flour.  These 
boys  are  his  customers,  last  fall,  this  summer, 
and  possibly  for  years  to  come.  If  he  wanted 
them,  Joel  did  perfectly  right  to  buy  the  cat- 
tle unseen." 


HARVEST   ON   THE   RANGE    321 

The  second  train  of  Lazy  H  beeves  reached 
the  railroad  on  schedule  time.  The  shipper 
was  in  waiting,  cattle  cars  filled  the  sidetrack, 
and  an  engine  and  crew  could  be  summoned 
on  a  few  hours'  notice.  If  corralled  the  night 
before,  passing  trains  were  liable  to  excite 
the  beeves,  and  thereafter  it  became  the  usual 
custom  to  hold  outside  and  safely  distant. 

The  importance  of  restocking  the  range 
hurried  the  shipping  operations.  Instead  of 
allowing  the  wagon  to  reach  the  station,  at 
sunrise  on  the  morning  of  shipping,  it  and  the 
remuda  were  started  homeward. 

"  We  '11  gather  beeves  on  the  lower  end  of 
our  range  to-morrow,"  said  Joel  to  the  cook 
and  wrangler,  "  and  there  's  no  need  to  touch 
at  headquarters.  Follow  the  trail  to  the  old 
crossing,  and  make  camp  at  the  lower  tank  — 
same  camp-ground  as  the  first  shipment  of 
Lazy  H's.  The  rest  of  the  outfit  will  follow, 
once  these  cattle  are  loaded  out.  You  might 
have  a  late  supper  awaiting  us  —  about  ten 
o'clock  to-night." 

The  gates  closed  on  the  beeves  without  mis- 
hap. They  were  cut  into  car  lots,  from  horse- 
back, and  on  the  arrival  of  the  crew,  the  load- 
ing began.  A  short  hour's  work  saw  the  cattle 
aboard,  when  the  dusty  horsemen  mounted 
and  clattered  into  the  straggling  hamlet. 


322  WELLS   BROTHERS 

The  homeward  trip  was  like  a  picnic.  The 
outfit  halted  on  the  first  running  water,  and 
saddle  pockets  disgorged  a  bountiful  lunch. 
The  horses  rolled,  grazed  the  noon  hours 
through,  and  again  took  up  their  former  road 
gait.  An  evening  halt  was  made  on  the 
Prairie  Dog,  where  an  hour's  grazing  was 
again  allowed,  the  time  being  wholly  devoted 
to  looking  into  the  future. 

"  If  we  stock  the  range  fully  this  fall,"  said 
Joel,  in  outlining  his  plans,  "  it  is  my  inten- 
tion to  build  an  emergency  camp  on  this 
creek,  in  case  of  winter  drifts.  Build  a  dug- 
out in  some  sheltered  nook,  cache  a  little  pro- 
vision and  a  few  sacks  of  corn,  and  if  the 
cattle  break  the  line,  we  can  ride  out  of  snug 
quarters  any  morning  and  check  them.  It 
beats  waiting  for  a  wagon  and  giving  the  drift 
a  twenty-mile  start.  We  could  lash  our  blan- 
kets on  a  pack  horse  and  ride  it  night  or  day." 

"What  a  long  head!"  approvingly  said 
Sargent.  "Joel,  you  could  almost  eat  out  of 
a  churn.  An  emergency  camp  on  the  Prairie 
Dog  is  surely  a  meaty  idea.  But  that 's  for  next 
winter,  and  beef  shipping's  on  in  full  blast 
right  now.  Let's  ride;  supper's  waiting  on 
the  Beaver." 


CHAPTER  XXI 

LIVING    IN   THE    SADDLE 

THE  glow  of  a  smouldering  camp-fire 
piloted  the  returning  horsemen  safely 
to  their  wagon.  A  good  night's  rest 
fitted  them  for  the  task  of  the  day,  which 
began  at  sunrise.  The  next  shipment  would 
come  from  the  flotsam  of  the  year  before, 
many  of  which  were  heavy  beeves,  intended 
for  army  delivery,  but  had  fallen  footsore  on 
the  long,  drouthy  march.  The  past  winter 
had  favored  the  lame  and  halt,  and  after  five 
months  of  summer,  the  bulk  of  them  had 
matured  into  finished  beef. 

By  shipping  the  different  contingents  sepa- 
rately, the  brothers  were  enabled  to  know  the 
situation  at  all  times.  No  accounts  were  kept, 
but  had  occasion  required,  either  Joel  or  Dell 
could  have  rendered  a  statement  from  mem- 
ory of  returns  on  the  double  and  single  win- 
tered, as  well  as  on  the  purchased  cattle.  Sale 
statements  were  furnished  by  the  commission 
house,  and  by  filing  these,  an  account  of  the 
year's  shipments,  each  brand  separate,  could 
be  made  up  at  the  end  of  the  season. 


324  WELLS   BROTHERS 

The  early  struggle  of  Wells  Brothers,  in 
stocking  their  range,  was  now  happily  over. 
Instead  of  accepting  the  crumbs  which  fell  as 
their  portion,  their  credit  and  resources  en- 
abled them  to  choose  the  class  of  cattle  which 
promised  growth  and  quick  returns.  The 
range  had  proven  itself  in  maturing  beef,  and 
the  ranch  thereafter  would  carry  only  suffi- 
cient cows  to  quiet  and  pacify  its  holdings  of 
cattle. 

"If  this  was  my  ranch,"  said  Sargent  to  the 
brothers  at  breakfast,  "  I  'd  stock  it  with  two- 
year-old  steers  and  double-winter  every  hoof. 
Look  over  those  sale  statements  and  you'll 
see  what  two  winters  mean.  That  first  ship- 
ment of  Lazy  H's  was  as  fat  as  mud,  and  yet 
they  netted  seven  dollars  a  head  less  than 
those  rag-tag,  double-wintered  ones.  There 's 
a  waste  that  must  be  saved  hereafter." 

"That's  our  intention,"  said  Joel.  "We'll 
ship  out  every  hoof  that  has  the  flesh  this  year. 
Nearly  any  beef  will  buy  three  two-year-old 
steers  to  take  his  place.  It  may  take  another 
year  or  two  to  shape  up  our  cattle,  but  after 
that,  every  hoof  must  be  double-wintered." 

An  hour  after  sunrise,  the  drag-net  was 
drawing  together  the  first  round-up  of  the  day. 
The  importance  of  handling  heavy  beeves 
without  any  excitement  was  fully  understood, 


LIVING   IN   THE   SADDLE      325 

and  to  gather  a  shipment  without  disturbing 
those  remaining  was  a  task  that  required  pa- 
tience and  intelligence.  Men  on  the  outside 
circle  merely  turned  the  cattle  on  the  extremes 
of  the  range;  they  were  followed  by  inner 
horsemen,  and  the  drag-net  closed  at  a  grazing 
pace,  until  the  round-up  halted  on  a  few  acres. 

The  first  three  shipments  had  tried  out  the 
remuda.  The  last  course  in  the  education  of 
a  cow-horse  is  cutting  cattle  out  of  a  mixed 
round-up.  On  the  present  work,  those  horses 
which  had  proven  apt  were  held  in  reserve, 
and  while  the  first  contingent  of  cattle  was 
quieting  down,  the  remuda  was  brought  up 
and  saddles  shifted  to  four  cutting  horses. 
The  average  cow  can  dodge  and  turn  quicker 
than  the  ordinary  horse,  and  only  a  few  of  the 
latter  ever  combine  action  and  intelligence  to 
outwit  the  former.  Cunning  and  ingenuity, 
combined  with  the  required  alertness,  a  per- 
fect rein,  coupled  with  years  of  actual  work, 
produce  that  rarest  of  range  mounts  —  the 
cutting  horse. 

Dell  had  been  promised  a  trial  in  cutting 
out  beeves.  Sargent  took  him  in  hand,  and 
mounted  on  two  picked  horses,  they  entered 
the  herd.  "Now,  I'll  pick  the  beeves,"  said 
the  latter,  "and  you  cut  them  out.  All  you 
need  to  do  is  to  rein  that  horse  down  on  your 


326  WELLS   BROTHERS 

beef,  and  he'll  take  him  out  of  the  herd.  Of 
course  you'll  help  the  horse  some  little;  but  if 
you  let  too  many  back,  I  '11  call  our  wrangler 
and  try  him  out.  That  horse  knows  the  work 
just  as  well  as  you  do.  Now,  go  slow,  and  don't 
ride  over  your  beef." 

The  work  commenced.  The  beeves  were 
lazy  from  flesh,  inactive,  and  only  a  few  of- 
fered any  resistance  to  the  will  of  the  horse- 
men. Dell  made  a  record  of  cutting  out  fifty 
beeves  in  less  than  an  hour,  and  only  letting 
one  reenter  the  herd.  The  latter  was  a  pony- 
built  beef,  and  after  sullenly  leaving  the  herd, 
with  the  agility  of  a  cat,  he  whirled  right  and 
left  on  the  space  of  a  blanket,  and  beat  the 
horse  back  into  the  round-up.  Sargent  lent  a 
hand  on  the  second  trial,  and  when  the  beef 
saw  that  resistance  was  useless,  he  kicked  up 
his  heels  and  trotted  away  to  join  those  se- 
lected for  shipment. 

"  He  's  laughing  at  you,"  said  Sargent.  "  He 
only  wanted  to  try  you  out.  Just  wanted  to 
show  you  that  no  red-headed  boy  and  flea-bit 
horse  could  turn  him.  And  he  showed  you." 

"This  beats  roping,"  admitted  Dell,  as  the 
two  returned  to  the  herd,  quite  willing  to 
change  the  subject.  "Actually  when  a  beef 
reaches  the  edge  of  the  herd,  this  horse  swells 
up  and  his  eyes  pop  out  like  door-knobs.  You 


HE   BEAT   THE   HORSE   BACK   INTO  THE   ROUND-UP 


LIVING   IN    THE   SADDLE       327 

can  feel  every  muscle  in  him  become  as  rigid 
as  ropes,  and  he  touches  the  ground  as  if  he 
was  walking  on  eggs.  Look  at  him  now;  goes 
poking  along  as  if  he  was  half  asleep." 

"He's  a  cutting  horse  and  doesn't  wear 
himself  out.  Whenever  you  can  strip  the 
bridle  off,  while  cutting  out  a  beef,  and  handle 
your  steer,  that's  the  top  rung  a  cow-horse 
can  reach.   He  's  a  king  pin  —  that 's  royalty." 

A  second  round-up  was  required  to  com- 
plete the  train-load  of  beeves.  They  were  not 
uniform  in  weight  or  age,  and  would  require 
reclassing  before  loading  aboard  the  cars. 
Their  flesh  and  finish  were  fully  up  to  standard, 
but  the  manner  in  which  they  were  acquired 
left  them  uneven,  their  ages  varying  from  four 
to  seven  years. 

"There's  velvet  in  this  shipment,"  said 
Sargent,  when  the  beeves  had  been  counted 
and  trimmed.  "  These  cattle  can  defy  com- 
petition. Instead  of  five  cents  a  head  for 
watering  last  year's  drive,  this  year's  ship- 
ment from  crumbs  will  net  you  double  that 
amount.  The  first  gathering  of  beef  will 
square  the  account  with  every  thirsty  cow 
you  watered  last  summer." 

An  extra  day  was  allowed  in  which  to 
reach  the  railroad.  The  shipment  must  pen 
the    evening    before,    and   halting   the    herd 


328  WELLS   BROTHERS 

within  half  a  mile  of  the  railway  corrals,  the 
reclassing  fell  to  Joel  and  Sargent.  The  con- 
tingent numbered  four  hundred  and  forty 
beeves,  and  in  order  to  have  them  market- 
able, all  rough,  heavy  cattle  must  be  cut  into 
a  class  by  themselves,  leaving  the  remainder 
neat  and  uniform.  A  careful  hour's  work  re- 
sulted in  seven  car-loads  of  extra  heavy  beeves, 
which  were  corralled  separately  and  in  ad- 
vance of  the  others,  completing  a  long  day 
in  the  saddle. 

Important  mail  was  awaiting  Wells  Bro- 
thers at  the  station.  A  permit  from  the  state 
quarantine  authorities  had  been  secured,  due 
to  the  influence  of  the  commission  house  and 
others,  admitting  the  through  herd,  then  en 
route  from  Ogalalla.  The  grant  required  a 
messenger  to  meet  the  herd  without  delay, 
and  Dell  volunteered  his  services  as  courier. 
Darkness  fell  before  supper  was  over  and  the 
messenger  ready. 

"One  more  shipment  will  clean  up  our 
beeves,"  said  Joel  to  his  brother,  "and  those 
through  cattle  can  come  in  the  day  we  gather 
our  last  train.  We  '11  give  them  a  clear  field. 
If  the  herd  has  n't  reached  the  Republican, 
push  ahead  until  you  meet  it." 

A  hundred-mile  ride  lay  before  Dell  Wells. 
"You  mean  for  the  herd  to  follow  the  old 


LIVING   IN   THE   SADDLE      329 

trail,"  he  inquired,  "  and  turn  off  opposite  our 
middle  tank  ?  " 

"That's  it;  and  hold  the  cattle  under  herd 
until  we  can  count  and  receive  them." 

Dell  led  out  his  horse  and  mounted.  "Dog- 
toe  will  take  me  safely  home  to-night,"  said  he, 
"and  we'll  reach  the  Republican  by  noon  to- 
morrow. If  the  herd 's  there,  you  have  n't  an 
hour  to  waste.  We  '11  drop  down  on  you  in  a 
day  and  a  half." 

The  night  received  courier  and  horse.  A 
clatter  of  caution  and  advice  followed  the  re- 
treating figure  out  of  hearing,  when  the  others 
threw  themselves  down  around  the  camp-fire. 
Early  morning  found  the  outfit  astir,  and  as  on 
the  previous  occasion,  the  wagon  and  remuda 
were  started  home  at  daybreak.  The  loading 
and  shipping  instructions  were  merely  a  repe- 
tition of  previous  consignments,  and  the  train 
had  barely  left  the  station  when  the  cavalcade 
rode  to  overtake  the  commissary. 

The  wagon  was  found  encamped  on  the 
Prairie  Dog.  An  hour's  rest  was  allowed, 
fresh  horses  were  saddled,  when  Joel  turned 
to  the  cook  and  wrangler :  "  Make  camp  to- 
night on  the  middle  tank,  below  headquarters. 
We  '11  ride  on  ahead  and  drift  all  the  cattle  up 
the  creek.  Our  only  round-up  to-morrow  will 
be  well  above  the  old  winter  corral.  It's  our 


330  WELLS   BROTHERS 

last  gathering  of  beef,  and  we  want  to  make  a 
general  round-up  of  the  range.  We  '11  drift 
cattle  until  dark,  so  that  it  '11  be  late  when  we 
reach  camp." 

The  outfit  of  horsemen  followed  the  old 
trail,  and  only  sighted  the  Beaver  late  in  the 
afternoon.  The  last  new  tank,  built  that 
spring,  was  less  than  a  mile  below  the  old 
crossing;  and  veering  off  there,  the  drag-net 
was  thrown  across  the  valley  below  it,  and  a 
general  drift  begun.  An  immense  half-circle, 
covering  the  limits  of  the  range,  pointed  the 
cattle  into  the  valley,  and  by  moving  forward 
and  converging  as  the  evening  advanced,  a 
general  drift  was  maintained.  The  pace  was 
barely  that  of  grazing,  and  as  darkness  ap- 
proached, all  cattle  on  the  lower  end  of  the 
range  were  grazed  safely  above  the  night  camp 
and  left  adrift. 

The  wagon  had  arrived,  and  the  men  reached 
camp  by  twos  and  threes.  There  was  little 
danger  of  the  cattle  returning  to  their  favorite 
range  during  the  night,  but  for  fear  of  strag- 
glers, at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning  the 
drag-net  was  again  thrown  out  from  camp. 
Headquarters  was  passed  before  the  horse- 
men began  encountering  any  quantity  of  cattle, 
and  after  passing  the  old  winter  corral,  the 
men  on  the  points  of  the  half-circle  were  sent 


LIVING   IN   THE   SADDLE       331 

to  ride  the  extreme  limits  of  the  range.  By 
the  middle  of  the  forenoon,  everything  was 
adrift,  and  as  the  cattle  naturally  turned  into 
the  valley  for  their  daily  drink,  a  few  com- 
plete circles  brought  the  total  herd  into  a  gen- 
eral round-up,  numbering  over  fifteen  hundred 
head  of  mixed  cattle. 

Meanwhile  the  wagon  and  remuda  had  fol- 
lowed up  the  drift,  dinner  was  waiting,  and 
after  the  mid-day  meal  had  been  bolted,  orders 
rang  out.  "  Right  here  's  where  all  hands  and 
the  cook  draw  fresh  horses,"  said  Sargent, 
"and  get  into  action.  It's  a  bulky  herd,  and 
cutting  out  will  be  slow.  The  cook  and 
wrangler  must  hold  the  beeves,  and  that  will 
turn  the  rest  of  us  free  to  watch  the  round-up 
and  cut  out." 

By  previous  agreement,  in  order  to  shorten 
the  work,  Joel  was  to  cut  out  the  remnant  of 
double-wintered  beeves,  Manly  the  Lazy  H's, 
while  Sargent  and  an  assistant  would  confine 
their  selections  to  the  single-wintered  ones  in 
the  — Y  brand.  Each  man  would  tally  his 
own  work,  even  car-loads  were  required,  and 
a  total  would  constitute  the  shipment.  The 
cutting  out  began  quietly;  but  after  a  nucleus 
of  beeves  were  selected,  their  numbers  gained 
,at  the  rate  of  three  to  five  a  minute,  while  the 
sweat  began  to  reek  from  the  horses. 


332  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Joel  cut  two  car-loads  of  prime  beeves,  and 
then  tendered  his  services  to  Sargent.  The 
cattle  had  quieted,  and  a  fifth  man  was  relieved 
from  guarding  the  round-up,  and  sent  to  the 
assistance  of  Manly.  A  steady  stream  of  beef 
poured  out  for  an  hour,  when  a  comparison 
of  figures  was  made.  Manly  was  limited  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty  head,  completing  an 
even  thousand  shipped  from  the  brand,  and 
lacking  four,  was  allowed  to  complete  his 
number.  Sargent  was  without  limit,  the  object 
being  to  trim  the  general  herd  of  every  heavy, 
rough  beef,  and  a  tally  on  numbers  was  all 
that  was  required.  The  work  was  renewed 
with  tireless  energy,  and  when  the  limit  of 
twenty  cars  was  reached,  a  general  confer- 
ence resulted  in  cutting  two  loads  extra. 

"That  leaves  the  home  cattle  clean  of  rough 
stuff,"  said  Sargent,  as  he  dismounted  and 
loosened  the  saddle  on  a  tired  horse.  "  Any 
aged  steers  left  are  clean  thrifty  cattle,  and 
will  pay  their  way  to  hold  another  year.  Turn 
the  round-up  adrift." 

After  blowing  their  horses,  a  detail  of  men 
drifted  the  general  herd  up  the  creek.  Others 
lent  their  assistance  to  the  wrangler  in  corral- 
ling his  remuda,  and  after  relieving  the  cutting 
horses,  the  beeves  were  grazed  down  the  val- 
ley. The  outfit  had  not  spent  a  night  at  head- 


LIVING   IN   THE   SADDLE       333 

quarters  in  some  time,  the  wagon  serving  as 
a  substitute,  and  orders  for  evening  freed  all 
hands  except  two  men  on  herd  with  the 
beeves. 

The  hurry  of  the  day  was  over.  On  secur- 
ing fresh  horses,  Joel  and  Sargent  turned  to 
the  assistance  of  the  detail,  then  drifting  the 
main  herd  westward.  The  men  were  excused, 
to  change  mounts,  and  relieved  from  further 
duty  until  the  guards,  holding  the  beeves,  were 
arranged  for  the  night.  The  remnant  of  the 
herd  was  pushed  up  the  creek  and  freed  near 
Hackberry  Grove,  and  on  returning  to  over- 
take the  beeves,  the  two  horsemen  crossed  a 
spur  of  the  tableland,  jutting  into  the  valley, 
affording  a  perfect  view  of  the  surrounding 
countrv. 

With  the  first  sweep  of  the  horizon,  their 
horses  were  reined  to  a  halt.  Fully  fifteen 
miles  to  the  northeast,  and  in  a  dip  of  the 
plain,  hung  an  ominous  dust  cloud.  Both 
horsemen  read  the  sign  at  a  glance. 

Sargent  was  the  first  to  speak.  "Dell  met 
the  herd  on  the  Republican,"  said  he  with 
decision.  "  It 's  the  Stoddard  cattle  from  Oga- 
lalla.  The  pitch  of  their  dust  shows  they  're 
trailing  south." 

The  sign  in  the  sky  was  read  correctly. 
The  smoke  from  a  running  train  and  the  dust 


334  WELLS   BROTHERS 

from  a  trailing  herd,  when  viewed  from  a  dis- 
tance, pitches  upward  from  a  horizon  line, 
and  the  moving  direction  of  train  or  herd  is 
easily  read  by  an  observant  plainsman.  Sar- 
gent's summary  was  confirmed  on  reaching 
headquarters,  where  Dell  and  the  trail  fore- 
man were  found,  the  latter  regaling  Manly  and 
others  with  the  chronicle  of  the  new  trail. 

The  same  foreman  as  the  year  before  was 
in  charge  of  the  herd.  He  protested  against 
any  step  tending  to  delivery  for  that  day, 
even  to  looking  the  cattle  over.  "  Uncle  Dud 
wouldn't  come,"  said  he,  "and  it's  up  to  me 
to  make  the  delivery.  I  've  been  pioneering 
around  all  summer  with  this  herd,  and  now 
that  I  'm  my  own  boss,  I  '11  take  orders  from 
no  one.  We  made  rather  a  forced  drive  from 
the  Republican,  and  I  want  a  good  night's 
rest  for  both  the  herd  and  myself.  Ten  o'clock 
in  the  morning  will  be  early  enough  to  ten- 
der the  cattle  for  delivery.  In  the  mean  time, 
our  pilot,  the  red-headed  clerk,  will  answer 
all  questions.  As  for  myself,  I  'm  going  to 
sleep  in  the  new  tent,  and  if  any  one  calls  or 
wakes  me  in  the  morning,  I  '11  get  up  and 
wear  him  out.  I  've  lost  a  right  smart  of  sleep 
this  summer,  and  I  won't  stand  no  trifling." 

Joel  fully  understood  that  the  object  in  de- 
lay was  to  have  the  herd  in  presentable  con- 


LIVING   IN   THE   SADDLE      335 

dition,  and  offered  no  objection.  The  beeves 
were  grazed  up  opposite  headquarters,  and  the 
guards  were  arranged  for  the  night,  which 
passed  without  incident.  Thereafter,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  precaution,  a  dead-Hne  must  be  main- 
tained between  the  wintered  and  the  through 
cattle;  and  as  Manly  was  to  remain  another 
year,  he  and  an  assistant  were  detailed  to  stay 
at  headquarters.  A  reduced  mount  of  horses 
was  allowed  them,  and  starting  the  beeves 
at  daybreak,  the  wagon  and  remuda  followed 
several  hours  later. 

The  trail  foreman  was  humored  in  his 
wishes.  It  was  nearly  noon  when  the  through 
herd  was  reached,  grazed  and  watered  to  sur- 
feiting, and  a  single  glance  satisfied  Joel  Wells 
that  the  cattle  fully  met  every  requirement. 
The  question  of  age  was  disposed  of  as  easily 
as  that  of  quality. 

"  We  gathered  this  year's  drive  on  our  home 
ranges,"  said  the  foreman,  "  and  each  age  was 
held  separate  until  the  herds  were  made  up. 
I  started  with  fifteen  hundred  threes  and  six- 
teen hundred  twos,  with  ten  head  extra  of 
each  age,  in  case  of  loss  on  the  trail.  Our 
count  on  leaving  Ogalalla  showed  a  loss  of 
twelve  head.  I  'm  willing  to  class  or  count 
them  as  they  run.  Manly  knows  the  make-up 
of  the  herd." 


336  WELLS   BROTHERS 

Sargent  and  the  brothers  rode  back  and 
forth  through  the  scattered  cattle.  It  meant  a 
big  saving  of  time  to  accept  them  on  a  straight 
count,  and  on  being  rejoined  by  the  fore- 
man, Joel  waived  his  intent  to  classify  the 
cattle. 

"I  bought  this  herd  on  Mr.  Stoddard's 
word,"  said  he,  "  and  I  'm  going  to  class  it  on 
yours.  String  out  your  cattle,  and  you  and 
Manly  count  against  Sargent  and  myself." 

A  correct  count  on  a  large  herd  is  no  easy 
task.  In  trailing  formation,  the  cattle  march 
between  a  line  of  horsemen,  but  in  the  open 
the  difficulty  is  augmented.  A  noonday  sun 
lent  its  assistance  in  quieting  the  herd,  which 
was  shaped  into  an  immense  oval,  and  the 
count  attempted.  The  four  men  elected  to 
make  the  count  cut  off  a  number  of  the  leaders, 
and  counting  them,  sent  them  adrift.  There- 
after, the  trail  outfit  fed  the  cattle  between 
the  quartette,  who  sat  their  horses  in  speechless 
intensity,  as  the  column  filed  through  at  ran- 
dom. Each  man  used  a  string,  containing  ten 
knots,  checking  the  hundreds  by  slipping  the 
knots,  and  when  the  last  hoof  had  passed  in 
review,  the  quiet  of  a  long  hour  was  relieved 
by  a  general  shout,  when  the  trail  outfit  dashed 
up  to  know  the  result. 

"  How  many  strays   have  you  ?  "  inquired 


LIVING   IN   THE   SADDLE      337 

Sargent  of  the  foreman,  as  the  quartette  rode 
together. 

"That's  so;  there's  a  steer  and  a  heifer; 
we  '11  throw  them  in  for  good  measure.  What's 
your  count  ?  " 

"  Minus  the  strays,  mine  repeats  yours  at 
Ogalalla,"  answered  Sargent,  turning  to  Joel. 

"  Thirty-one  hundred  and  ten,"  said  the  boy. 

The  trail  foreman  gave  vent  to  a  fit  of 
laughter.  "  Young  fellow,"  said  he,  "  I  never 
allow  no  man  to  outdo  me  in  politeness.  If 
you  bought  these  cattle  on  my  old  man's 
word,  I  want  you  to  be  safe  in  receiving 
them.  We  '11  class  them  sixteen  hundred 
twos,  and  fifteen  hundred  threes,  and  any 
overplus  falls  to  the  red-headed  pilot.  That 's 
about  what  Uncle  Dud  would  call  a  Texas 
count  and  classification.  Shake  out  your 
horses;  dinner's  waiting." 

There  were  a  few  details  to  arrange.  Manly 
must  have  an  assistant,  and  an  extra  man  was 
needed  with  the  shipment,  both  of  whom  vol- 
unteered from  the  through  outfit.  The  fore- 
man was  invited  to  move  up  to  headquarters 
and  rest  to  his  heart's  content,  but  in  his 
anxiety  to  report  to  his  employer,  the  invita- 
tion was  declined. 

"  We  '11  follow  up  to-morrow,"  said  he,  "and 
lay  over  on  the  railroad  until  you  come  in 


338  WELLS  BROTHERS 

with  our  beeves.  The  next  hard  work  I  do  is 
to  get  in  touch  with  my  Uncle  Dudley." 

"Look  here  —  how  about  it — when  may 
we  expect  you  home  ?  "  sputtered  Manly,  as  the 
others  hurriedly  made  ready  to  overtake  the 
beef  herd. 

"  When  you  see  us  again,"  answered  Joel, 
mounting  his  horse.  "  If  this  shipment  strikes 
a  good  market,  we  may  drop  down  to  Trail 
City  and  pick  up  another  herd.  It  largely  de- 
pends on  our  bank  account.  Until  you  see  or 
hear  from  us,  hold  the  dead-line  and  locate 
your  cattle." 


CHAPTER  XXII 

INDEPENDENCE 

THE  trail  outfit  reached  the  railroad  a 
day  in  advance  of  the  beeves.  Ship- 
ping orders  were  sent  to  the  station 
agent  in  advance,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the  herd 
the  two  outfits  made  short  shift  in  classifying 
it  for  market  and  corralling  the  different  grades 
of  cattle. 

Mr.  Stoddard  had  been  located  at  Trail 
City.  Once  the  shipment  was  safely  within 
the  corral,  notice  was  wired  the  commission 
firm,  affording  time  for  reply  before  the  ship- 
ment would  leave  in  the  morning.  An  early 
call  at  the  station  was  rewarded  by  receipt 
of  a  wire  from  the  west.  "  Read  that,"  said 
the  foreman,  handing  the  telegram  to  Joel ; 
"wants  all  three  of  us  to  come  into  the 
city." 

"Of  course,"  commented  Joel,  returning 
the  message.  "  It 's  clear  enough.  There 's  an 
understanding  between  us.  At  the  earliest 
convenience,  after  the  delivery  of  the  herd, 
we  were  to  meet  and  draw  up  the  final  papers. 
We'll  all  go  in  with  this  shipment." 


340  WELLS   BROTHERS 

"And  send  the  outfits  across  country  to 
Trail  City?" 

"  Throw  the  remudas  together  and  let  them 
start  the  moment  the  cattle  train  leaves.  We 
can  go  back  with  Mr.  Stoddard  and  meet  the 
outfits  at  the  new  trail  market." 

"  That 's  the  ticket,"  said  the  trail  boss.  "  I  'm 
dead  tired  of  riding  horses  and  eating  at  a 
wagon.  Give  me  the  plush  cushions  and  let 
me  put  my  little  feet  under  a  table  once  more." 

The  heavy  cattle  train  was  promised  a  spe- 
cial schedule.  The  outfits  received  their  or- 
ders, and  at  the  usual  hour  in  the  morning,  the 
shipment  started  to  market.  Weathered  brown 
as  a  saddle,  Dell  was  walking  on  clouds, 
lending  a  hand  to  the  shipper  in  charge,  rid- 
ing on  the  engine,  or  hungering  for  the  rare 
stories  with  which  the  trail  foreman  regaled 
the  train  crew.  The  day  passed  like  a  brief 
hour,  the  train  threading  its  way  past  corn 
fields,  country  homes,  and  scorning  to  halt  at 
the  many  straggling  villages  that  dotted  the 
route. 

It  was  a  red-letter  day  in  the  affairs  of 
Wells  Brothers.  The  present,  their  fifth  ship- 
ment of  the  year,  a  total  of  over  nineteen 
hundred  beeves,  was  en  route  to  market.  An- 
other day,  and  their  operations  in  cattle,  from 
a  humble  beginning  to  the  present  hour,  could 


INDEPENDENCE  341 

be  condensed  into  a  simple  statement.  The 
brothers  could  barely  wait  the  intervening 
hours,  and  when  the  train  reached  the  mar- 
ket and  they  had  retired  for  the  night,  specu- 
lation ran  rife  in  planning  the  future.  And 
amid  all  their  dreams  and  air  castles,  in  the 
shadowy  background  stood  two  simple  men 
whose  names  were  never  mentioned  except 
in  terms  of  loving  endearment. 

Among  their  many  friends,  Quince  Forrest 
was  Dell's  hero.  "They're  all  good  fellows," 
he  admitted,  "  but  Mr.  Quince  is  a  prince. 
He  gave  us  our  start  in  cattle.  Our  debt  to 
him  —  well,  we  can  never  pay  it.  And  he 
never  owned  a  hoof  himself." 

"We  owe  Mr.  Paul  just  as  much,"  pro- 
tested Joel.  "  He  showed  us  our  chance. 
When  pa  died,  the  settlers  on  the  Solomon 
talked  of  making  bound  boys  of  us.  Mr. 
Paul  was  the  one  who  saw  us  as  we  are 
to-day." 

"I  wish  mother  could  have  lived  to  see  us 
now  —  shipping  beeves  by  the  train-load  — 
and  buying  cattle  by  the  thousand." 

An  eager  market  absorbed  the  beeves,  and 
before  noon  they  had  crossed  the  scale.  A 
conference,  jubilant  in  its  nature,  took  place 
during  the  afternoon,  in  the  inner  office  of  the 
commission  firm.  The  execution  of  a  new  con- 


342  WELLS   BROTHERS 

tract  was  a  mere  detail;  but  when  the  chief 
bookkeeper  handed  in  a  statement  covering 
the  shipments  of  this  and  the  previous  year,  a 
lull  in  the  gayety  was  followed  by  a  moment 
of  intense  interest.  The  account  showed  a  bal- 
ance of  sixty-odd  thousand  dollars  in  favor  of 
Wells  Brothers  ! 

"Give  them  a  letter  of  credit  for  their  bal- 
ance," said  Mr.  Stoddard,  amid  the  general 
rejoicing.  "And  get  us  some  passes;  we're 
all  going  out  to  Trail  City  to-night.  There  's 
a  few  bargains  on  that  market,  and  the  boys 
want  to  stock  their  range  fully." 

"Yours  obediently,"  said  the  old  factor, 
beaming  on  his  patrons.  "And  if  the  boys 
have  any  occasion  to  use  any  further  funds, 
don't  hesitate  to  draw  on  us.  The  manner  in 
which  they  have  protected  their  credit  en- 
titles them  to  our  confidence.  Our  customers 
come  first.  Their  prosperity  is  our  best  asset. 
A  great  future  lies  before  you  boys,  and  we 
want  a  chance  to  help  you  reach  it.  Keep  in 
touch  with  us;  we  may  hear  of  something  to 
your  advantage." 

"  In  case  we  need  it,  can  you  get  us  another 
permit  to  bring  Texas  cattle  into  Kansas.?" 
eagerly  inquired  Joel. 

"  Try  us,"  answered  the  old  man,  with  a 
knowing  look.  "  We  may  not  be  able  to,  but 


INDEPENDENCE  343 

in  securing  business,  railroads  look  years 
ahead." 

A  jolly  party  of  cowmen  left  for  Trail  City 
that  night.  Morning  found  their  train  creep- 
ing up  the  valley  of  the  Arkansas.  The  old 
trail  market  of  Dodge,  deserted  and  forlorn- 
looking  among  the  wild  sunflower,  was  passed 
like  a  way  station.  The  new  market  was  only 
a  mile  over  the  state  line,  in  Colorado,  and 
on  nearing  their  destination  the  party  drew 
together. 

"  I  've  only  got  a  remnant  of  a  herd  left," 
said  Mr.  Stoddard,  "and  I  want  you  to  under- 
stand that  there  's  no  obligation  to  even  look 
at  them.  Mr.  Lovell  's  at  his  beef  ranch  in 
Dakota,  and  his  men  have  not  been  seen  since 
the  herds  passed  north  in  June.  But  I'll  help 
you  buy  any  cattle  you  want." 

In  behalf  of  the  brothers,  Joel  accepted  the 
offer.  "These  Texas  cattle,"  he  continued, 
"reach  their  maturity  the  summer  following 
their  fourth  year.  Hereafter,  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible, we  want  to  shape  up  our  holdings  so 
as  to  double-winter  all  our  beef  cattle.  For 
that  reason,  we  prefer  to  buy  two-year-olds. 
We'll  look  at  your  remnant;  there  would  be 
no  occasion  to  rebrand,  which  is  an  advan- 
tage." 

The  train  reached  Trail  City  on  time.  The 


344  WELLS   BROTHERS 

town  was  of  mushroom  growth — a  straggling 
business  street  with  fancy  fronts,  while  the 
outer  portions  of  the  village  were  largely  con- 
structed of  canvas.  The  Arkansas  River 
passed  to  the  south,  numerous  creeks  put  in 
to  the  main  stream,  affording  abundant  water 
to  the  herds  on  sale,  while  a  bountiful  range 
surrounded  the  market.  Shipping  pens,  brand- 
ing chutes,  and  every  facility  for  handling 
cattle  were  complete. 

The  outfits  were  not  expected  in  for  another 
day.  In  the  mean  time,  it  became  rumored 
about  that  the  two  boys  who  had  returned 
with  Mr.  Stoddard  and  his  trail  foreman  were 
buyers  for  a  herd  of  cattle.  The  presence  of 
the  old  cowman  threw  a  barrier  of  protection 
around  the  brothers,  except  to  his  fellow 
drovers,  who  were  made  acquainted  with  his 
proteges  and  their  errand  freely  discussed. 

"These  boys  are  customers  of  mine,"  an- 
nounced Mr.  Stoddard  to  a  group  of  his 
friends.  "  I  sold  them  a  herd  at  Dodge  last 
year,  and  another  at  Ogalalla  this  summer. 
Range  on  the  Beaver,  in  northwest  Kansas. 
Just  shipped  out  their  last  train  of  beeves 
this  week.  Had  them  on  yesterday's  market. 
From  what  I  gather,  they  can  use  about 
three  thousand  to  thirty-five  hundred  head. 
At  least  their  letter  of  credit  is  good  for  those 


INDEPENDENCE  345 

numbers.  Sorry  I  ain't  got  the  cattle  myself. 
They  naturally  look  to  me  for  advice,  and  I 
feel  an  interest  in  the  boys.  Their  outfit 
ought  to  be  in  by  to-morrow." 

Mr.  Stoddard's  voucher  placed  the  brothers 
on  a  firm  footing,  and  every  attention  was 
shown  the  young  cowmen.  An  afternoon  and 
a  morning's  drive,  and  the  offerings  on  the 
trail  market  had  been  carefully  looked  over, 
including  the  remnant  of  Mr.  Stoddard.  Only 
a  few  herds  possessed  their  original  numbers, 
none  of  which  were  acceptable  to  the  buyers, 
while  the  smaller  ones  frequently  contained 
the  desired  grade  and  age. 

"Let  me  put  you  boys  in  possession  of  some 
facts,"  urged  Mr.  Stoddard,  in  confidence  to 
the  brothers.  "Most  of  us  drovers  are  tired 
out,  disgusted  with  the  slight  demand  for 
cattle,  and  if  you'll  buy  out  our  little  rem- 
nants and  send  us  home  —  well,  we'd  almost 
let  you  name  the  price.  Unless  my  herds  are 
under  contract,  this  is  my  last  year  on  the 
trail" 

The  remnant  of  Mr.  Stoddard's  herd  num- 
bered around  seven  hundred  head.  They 
were  largely  twos,  only  a  small  portion  of 
threes,  and  as  an  inducement  their  owner 
offered  to  class  them  at  the  lesser  age,  and 
priced  them  at  the  same  figures  as  those  de- 


346  WELLS  BROTHERS 

livered  on  the  Beaver.  On  range  markets, 
there  was  a  difference  in  the  selling  value  of 
the  two  ages,  amounting  to  three  dollars  a 
head;  and  as  one  third  of  the  cattle  would 
have  classed  as  threes,  Joel  waived  his  objec- 
tion to  their  ages. 

"We'll  take  your  remnant  on  one  con- 
dition," said  he.  "Start  your  outfits  home,  but 
you  hang  around  until  we  make  up  our  herd." 

"That 's  my  intention,  anyhow,"  replied  Mr. 
Stoddard.  "  My  advice  would  be  to  pick  up 
these  other  remnants.  Two  years  on  a  steer 
makes  them  all  alike.  You  have  seen  cripple 
and  fagged  cattle  come  out  of  the  kinks,  and 
you  know  the  advantage  of  a  few  cows;  keeps 
your  cattle  quiet  and  on  the  home  range.  You 
might  keep  an  eye  open  for  any  bargains  in 
she  stuff." 

"  That 's  just  what  Jack  Sargent  says,"  said 
Dell;  "that  we  ought  to  have  a  cow  to  every 
ten  or  fifteen  steers." 

"  Sargent 's  our  foreman,"  explained  Joel. 
"  He's  a  Texan,  and  knows  cattle  right  down 
to  the  split  in  their  hoof.  With  his  and  your 
judgment,  we  ought  to  make  up  a  herd  of 
cattle  in  a  few  days." 

The  two  outfits  came  in  on  the  evening  of 
the  fourth  day.  The  next  morning  the  ac- 
cepted cattle  were  counted  and  received,  the 


INDEPENDENCE  347 

through  outfits  relieved,  the  remudas  started 
overland  under  a  detail,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  men  sent  home  by  rail.  In  acquiring  a 
nucleus,  Wells  Brothers  fell  heir  to  a  tempo- 
rary range  and  camp,  which  thereafter  became 
their  headquarters. 

A  single  day  was  wasted  in  showing  the 
different  remnants  to  Sargent,  and  relieved 
of  further  concern,  Mr.  Stoddard  lent  his  best 
efforts  to  bring  buyer  and  seller  together. 
Barter  began  in  earnest,  on  the  different  frag- 
ments acceptable  in  age  and  quality.  Prices 
on  range  cattle  were  nearly  standard,  at  least 
established  for  the  present,  and  any  yielding  on 
the  part  of  drovers  was  in  classing  and  con- 
ceding ages.  Bargaining  began  on  the  smaller 
remnants,  and  once  the  buyers  began  to  re- 
ceive and  brand,  there  was  a  flood  of  offer- 
ings, and  the  herd  was  made  up  the  second 
day.  The  —  Y  was  run  on  the  different  rem- 
nants as  fast  as  received,  and  when  completed, 
the  herd  numbered  a  few  over  thirty-four 
hundred  head.  The  suggestion  to  add  cows 
to  their  holdings  was  not  overlooked,  and  in 
making  up  the  herd,  two  fragments,  number- 
ing nearly  five  hundred,  were  purchased. 

"The  herd  will  be  a  trifle  unwieldy,"  ad- 
mitted Sargent,  "but  we're  only  going  to 
graze  home.  And  unless  we  get  a  permit,  we 


348  WELLS  BROTHERS 

had  better  hold  over  the  line  in  Colorado 
until  after  the  first  frost." 

"  Don't  worry  about  the  permit,"  admon- 
ished Mr.  Stoddard;  "it's  sure." 

"  We  '11  provision  the  wagon  for  a  month," 
said  Joel,  "  and  that  will  take  us  home,  with 
or  without  a  bill  of  health." 

The  commissary  was  stocked,  three  extra 
men  were  picked  up,  and  the  herd  started 
northward  over  the  new  Ogalalla  trail.  A 
week  later  it  crossed  the  Kansas  Pacific  Rail- 
road, when  Joel  left  the  herd,  returning  to 
their  local  station.  A  haying  outfit  was  en- 
gaged, placed  under  the  direction  of  Manly, 
and  after  spending  a  few  days  at  headquarters, 
the  young  cowman  returned  to  the  railroad. 

The  expected  permit  was  awaiting  him. 
There  was  some  slight  danger  in  using  it, 
without  first  removing  their  wintered  cattle; 
and  after  a  conference  with  Manly,  it  was 
decided  to  scout  out  the  country  between 
their  range  and  the  Colorado  line.  The  first 
herd  of  cattle  had  located  nicely,  one  man 
being  sufficient  to  hold  the  dead-line;  and  tak- 
ing a  pack  horse,  Joel  and  Manly  started  to 
explore  the  country  between  the  upper  tribu- 
taries of  the  Beaver  and  the  Colorado  line. 

A  rifle  was  taken  along  to  insure  venison. 
Near  the  evening  of  the  first  day,  a  band  of 


INDEPENDENCE  349 

wild  horses  was  sighted,  the  trail  of  which 
was  back-tracked  to  a  large  lake  in  the  sand 
hills.  On  resuming  their  scout  in  the  morning, 
sand  dunes  were  scaled,  admitting  of  an  im- 
mense survey  of  country,  but  not  until  even- 
ing was  water  in  any  quantity  encountered. 
The  scouts  were  beginning  to  despair  of  find- 
ing water  for  the  night,  when  an  immense  herd 
of  antelope  was  sighted,  crossing  the  plain  at 
an  easy  gallop  and  disappearing  among  the 
dunes.  Following  up  the  game  trail,  a  perfect 
chain  of  lakes,  a  mile  in  length,  was  found  at 
sunset.  A  venison  was  shot  and  a  fat  camp  for 
the  night  assured. 

The  glare  of  the  plain  required  early  ob- 
servation. The  white  haze,  heat  waves,  and 
mirages  were  on  every  hand,  blotting  out  dis- 
tinct objects  during  the  day.  On  leaving  the 
friendly  sand  hills,  the  horsemen  bore  directly 
for  the  timber  on  the  Republican,  which  was 
sighted  the  third  morning,  and  reached  the 
river  by  noon. 

No  sign  or  trace  of  cattle  was  seen.  The 
distance  between  the  new  and  old  trail  was 
estimated  at  one  hundred  miles,  and  judging 
from  their  hours  in  the  saddle,  the  scouts 
hoped  to  reach  the  new  crossing  on  the  river 
that  evening.  The  mid-day  glare  prevented 
observations;  and  as  they  followed  the  high 


350  WELLS   BROTHERS 

ground  along  the  Republican,  at  early  even- 
ing indistinct  objects  were  made  out  on  the 
border  of  a  distant  mirage. 

The  scouts  halted  their  horses.  On  every 
hand  might  be  seen  the  optical  illusions  of  the 
plain.  Beautiful  lakes,  placid  and  blue,  for- 
ests and  white-capped  mountains,  invited  the 
horsemen  to  turn  aside  and  rest  But  the  allure- 
ment of  the  mirage  was  an  old  story,  and  hold- 
ing the  objects  in  view,  they  jogged  on,  halting 
from  time  to  time  as  the  illusions  lifted. 

Mirages  arise  at  evening.  At  last,  in  their 
normal  proportions,  the  objects  of  concern 
moved  to  and  fro.  "  They  're  cattle ! "  shouted 
Manly.  "We're  near  a  ranch,  or  it's  the 
herd!" 

" Yonder 's  asmoke-cloud!"  excitedly  said 
Joel.  "See  it!  in  the  valley!  above  that  motte 
of  cotton-woods ! " 

"It's  a  camp!  Come  on!" 

The  herd  had  every  appearance  of  being 
under  control.  As  the  scouts  advanced,  the 
outline  of  an  immense  loose  herd  was  notice- 
able, and  on  a  far,  low  horizon,  a  horseman 
was  seen  on  duty.  On  reaching  the  cattle,  a 
single  glance  was  given,  when  the  brands  told 
the  remainder  of  the  story. 

A  detail  of  men  was  met  leaving  camp.  Sar- 
gent was  among  them,  and  after  hearty  greet- 


INDEPENDENCE  351 

ings  were  over,  Joel  outlined  the  programme : 
"After  leaving  the  Republican,"  said  he, 
"there 's  water  between  here  and  home  in  two 
places.  None  of  them  are  over  thirty  miles 
apart — a  day  and  a  half's  drive.  I  have  a  bill  of 
health  for  these  cattle,  and  turn  the  herd  down 
the  river  in  the  morning." 

The  new  trail  crossing  was  only  a  few  miles 
above  on  the  river.  The  herd  had  arrived 
three  days  before,  and  finding  grass  and  water 
in  abundance,  the  outfit  had  gone  into  camp, 
awaiting  word  from  home.  There  was  no  ob- 
ject in  waiting  any  great  distance  from  head- 
quarters, and  after  a  day's  travel  down  the 
Republican,  a  tack  was  made  for  the  sand 
hills. 

A  full  day's  rest  was  allowed  the  herd  on 
the  chain  of  lakes.  By  watering  early,  a  long 
drive  was  made  during  the  afternoon,  followed 
by  a  dry  camp,  and  the  lagoon  where  the  wild 
horses  had  been  sighted  was  reached  at  even- 
ing the  next  day. 

It  was  yet  early  in  September,  and  for  fear 
of  fever,  it  was  decided  to  isolate  the  herd  until 
after  the  first  frost.  The  camp  was  within  easy 
touch  of  headquarters;  and  leaving  Sargent 
and  five  men,  the  commissary,  and  half  the 
remuda,  the  remainder  returned  to  the  Beaver 
valley.  The  water  would  hold  the  cattle,  and 


352  WELLS   BROTHERS 

even  if  a  month  elapsed  before  frost  lifted 
the  ban,  the  herd  would  enjoy  every  freedom. 

The  end  of  the  summer's  work  was  in  sight. 
The  men  from  the  Republican  were  paid  for 
their  services,  commended  for  their  faithful- 
ness, and  went  their  way.  Preparations  for 
winter  were  the  next  concern;  and  while  hold- 
ing the  dead-line,  plans  for  two  new  line- 
camps  were  outlined,  one  below  the  old  trail 
crossing  and  the  other  an  emergency  shelter 
on  the  Prairie  Dog.  Forage  had  been  pro- 
vided at  both  points,  and  in  outlining  the  win- 
ter lines,  Joel  submitted  his  idea  for  Manly's 
approval. 

"  Sargent  thinks  we  can  hold  the  cattle  on 
twenty  miles  of  the  Beaver  valley,"  said  he, 
sketching  the  range  on  the  ground  at  his  feet. 
"We'll  have  to  ride  lines  again,  and  in  case 
the  cattle  break  through  during  a  storm,  we 
can  work  from  our  emergency  camp  on  the 
Prairie  Dog.  In  case  that  line  is  broken,  we 
can  drop  down  to  the  railroad  and  make  an- 
other attempt  to  check  any  drift.  And  as  a  last 
resort,  whether  we  hold  the  line  or  not,  we  '11 
send  an  outfit  as  far  south  as  the  Arkansas 
River,  and  attend  the  spring  round-ups  from 
there  north  to  the  Republican.  We  have  the 
horses  and  men,  and  no  one  can  throw  out  a 
wider  drag-net  than  our  outfit.  Let  the  winter 


INDEPENDENCE  353 

come  as  it  will ;  we  can  ride  to  the  lead  when 
spring  comes." 

The  future  of  Wells  Brothers  rested  on  sure 
foundations.  Except  in  its  new  environment, 
their  occupation  was  as  old  as  the  human  race, 
our  heroes  being  merely  players  in  a  dateless 
drama.  They  belonged  to  a  period  in  the  de- 
velopment of  our  common  country,  dating  from 
a  day  when  cattle  were  the  corner-stone  of  one 
fourth  of  our  national  domain.  They  and  their 
kind  were  our  pioneers,  our  empire  builders; 
for  when  a  cowman  pushed  into  some  primal 
valley  and  possessed  it  with  his  herd,  his  ranch 
became  an  outpost  on  our  frontier.  The  epoch 
was  truly  Western ;  their  ranges  were  con- 
trolled without  investment,  their  cattle  roamed 
the  virgin  pastures  of  an  unowned  land. 

Over  twenty-five  years  have  passed  since  an 
accident  changed  the  course  of  the  heroes  of 
this  story.  Since  that  day  of  poverty  and  un- 
certain outlook,  the  brothers  have  been  shaken 
by  adversity,  but  have  arisen  triumphant 
over  every  storm.  From  their  humble  begin- 
ning, chronicled  here,  within  two  decades  the 
brothers  acquired  no  less  than  seven  ranches 
in  the  Northwest,  while  their  holdings  of  cat- 
tle often  ran  in  excess  of  one  hundred  thousand 
head.  The  trail  passed  away  within  two  years 


354  WELLS   BROTHERS 

of  the  close  of  this  narrative;  but  from  their 
wide  acquaintance  with  former  drovers,  cattle 
with  which  to  restock  their  ranches  were 
brought  north  by  rail.  Their  operations  cov- 
ered a  wide  field,  requiring  trusty  men;  and 
with  the  passing  of  the  trail,  their  first  spon- 
sors found  ready  employment  with  their  for- 
mer protegds.  And  to-day,  in  the  many  irriga- 
tion projects  of  the  brothers,  in  reclaiming  the 
arid  regions,  among  the  directors  of  their  com- 
panies the  names  of  J.  Q^  Forrest  and  John 
P.  Priest  may  be  found. 

A  new  generation  now  occupies  the  Beaver 
valley.  In  the  genesis  of  the  West,  the  cow- 
man, the  successor  of  the  buffalo  and  Indian, 
gave  way  to  the  home-loving  instinct  of  man. 
The  sturdy  settler  crept  up  the  valley,  was 
repulsed  again  and  again  by  the  plain,  only  to 
renew  his  assault  until  success  crowned  his  ef- 
forts. It  was  then  that  the  brothers  saw  their 
day  and  dominion  passing  into  the  hands  of 
another.  But  instead  of  turning  to  new  fields, 
they  remained  with  the  land  that  nurtured  and 
rewarded  them,  an  equally  promising  field 
opening  in  financing  vast  irrigation  enterprises 
and  in  conserving  the  natural  water  supply. 

Joel  and  Dell  Wells  live  in  the  full  enjoy- 
ment of  fortunes  wrested  from  the  plain.  They 
are  still  young  men,  in  the  prime  of  life,  while 


INDEPENDENCE  3^5 

the  opportunities  of  a  thrifty  country  invite 
their  assistance  and  leadership  on  every  hand. 
They  are  deeply  interested  in  every  develop- 
ment of  their  state,  preferring  those  avenues 
where  heroic  endeavor  calls  forth  their  best 
exertion,  save  in  the  political  arena. 

Joel  Wells  was  recently  mentioned  as  an  ac- 
ceptable candidate  for  governor  of  his  adopted 
state,  but  declined,  owing  to  the  pressure  of 
personal  interests.  In  urging  his  nomination, 
a  prominent  paper,  famed  for  its  support  of 
state  interests,  in  a  leading  editorial,  paid  one 
of  our  heroes  the  following  tribute:  — 

".  .  .  What  the  state  needs  is  a  business  man 
in  the  executive  chair.  We  are  all  stockholders 
in  common,  yet  the  ship  of  state  seems  adrift, 
without  chart  or  compass,  pilot  or  captain.  In 
casting  about  for  a  governor  who  would  fully 
meet  all  requirements,  one  name  stands  alone. 
Joel  Wells  can  give  M a  business  ad- 
ministration. Educated  in  the  rough  school  of 
experience,  he  has  fought  his  way  up  from  a 
poor  boy  on  the  plains  to  an  enviable  leadership 
in  the  many  industries  of  the  state.  He  could 
bring  to  the  executive  office  every  requirement 
of  the  successful  business  man,  and  impart  to 
his  administration  that  mastery  which  marks 
every  enterprise  of  Wells  Brothers.  .  .  ." 

The  golden  age  is  always  with  us.  If  a  moral 


356  WELLS  BROTHERS 

were  necessary  to  adorn  this  story,  it  would 
be  that  no  poor  boy  need  despair  of  his  chance 
in  life.  The  future  holds  as  many  prizes  as  the 
past.  Material  nature  is  prodigal  in  its  bounty, 
and  whether  in  the  grass  under  our  feet,  or  in 
harnessing  the  waterfall,  we  make  or  mar  our 
success. 


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